My wife and I have undertaken to donate our art collection over time to

become part of the University of Tasmania Fine Art Collection, together

with a fund that, inter alia, will finance future purchases. Begun in 1960, our collection

includes paintings, drawings, graphics, sculptures and ceramics. Nearly all were

produced in the twentieth century by artists in Australia, Britain, Europe, the

United States and Africa. An important part is Romanian, obtained when I visited

the country frequently in the period from 1973 to 1987, working for the International

Monetary Fund.

By pure chance through a purchase of a painting seen in a gallery window,

I became a close friend of a Romanian artist, Corneliu Petrescu, and his wife, Mariana.

They played very great roles in the formation of the collection. They introduced me

to many of the best Romanian artists, some of whom in turn became personal

friends. The Petrescus and other close artist friends helped me choose quality,

representative works and gave me many as gifts. Corneliu Petrescu in particular was

an artistic mentor as well as a friend. Without these artist friends, especially Corneliu

and Mariana Petrescu, the Tyler Collection would not exist in its present form and it

would not come to UTAS. It is appropriate therefore that this introductory exhibition

is in part an exhibition of Petrescu’s works, to recognise his formative influence.

– Geoffrey Tyler

Checklist of the exhibition

1. Illustrations of the Book of Job By William Blake (1757−1827) Complete set of title and 21 plates

on India paper laid on Whatman “Turkey Mill’ paper, 1825

2. Three Towers No. 1 By Leonard French (born 1928) Enamel and mixed media,

probably 1960s

3. The Sisters By Arthur Boyd (1920−1999) Oil on canvas, mounted on

hardboard, circa 1949

By Corneliu Petrescu (1924−2009)

4. Self-portrait Mixed media on artist board, 1976

5. Portrait of wife Mariana Mixed media on artist board, 1976

6. Founders Mixed media on paper, 1973

7. Winter Mixed media on artist board, 1984

8. Landscape Mixed media on artist board, 1978

9. Shore Mixed media on paper, 1994

10. Still Life with Onion Mixed media on paper, 1995

11. Theatre Boxes Mixed media on paper, 1997

12. Byzantine Composition Mixed media on paper, 1998

13. Bryce Canyon Mixed media on hardboard, 1999

14. Balcony Mixed media on hardboard, 1999

15. Shore Mixed media on paper, 2004

16. Desert Mixed media on paper, 2004

17. Birthday card to Geoffrey Tyler Mixed media on paper, 2004

18. Self-portrait Mixed media on paper, 2004

The

Tyler ColleCTion

University of tasmania

University of TasmaniaThe fourth oldest university in Australia, the University of Tasmania has an international

focus in addition to its commitment to contribute to the cultural, economic and social

development of Tasmania. We celebrate this through all our disciplines, but none more

so than fine art. We proudly display our art in staff offices, as well as in student and

public spaces. Our campus galleries exhibit programs spanning all genres, and include

artists not only from Tasmania but from all corners of the world.

Over the years, we have been fortunate to add to our already substantial Fine

Art Collection. The Tyler gift brings to it an international perspective and an unusual

richness. We will be challenged and inspired by the breadth of their contribution.

The pieces in this first exhibition offer a glimpse into the collection’s significance

and the experience that lies ahead.

It is with great humility that we introduce the Tyler Collection as a wonderful

gesture from one of our graduates, and we look forward to the ongoing enjoyment

of this very personal gift.

—Professor Daryl Le Grew, Vice-Chancellor and President, November 2010

The University of Tasmania Fine Art Collection includes more than 2400 works of contemporary and historic art in a wide range of media including painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, ceramics, printmaking and digital imaging. Acquisitions have been made since 1967 through State and Commonwealth funding, University funding, the Cultural Gifts Program and individual bequests and donations.

The Sisters by Arthur Boyd (detail of cover illustration)

Three Towers No. 1 by Leonard French

This booklet uses paper produced from 50% post consumer recycled waste and 50% fibre sourced from responsibly managed forests. Printed with vegetable-based inks and in accordance with ISO 14001.

Corneliu Petrescu (1924−2009)Corneliu Petrescu was born in Slanic, Romania, on 23 June 1924.

Despite his interest and talent in art, his parents persuaded

him to become a physician. He obtained his MD at Bucharest

University and subsequently became a research doctor in

a medical institute in Bucharest.

His interest in art remained intense, however, and he studied

painting privately with leading Romanian artists. By the mid-1950s

he began exhibiting paintings and woodcuts. His first one-man

show was in Bucharest in 1964 and thereafter he had frequent solo

exhibitions in Romania, the Netherlands, West Germany and the

United States. From 1976 he ceased medical research and devoted

the rest of his life entirely to painting.

His work is heavily influenced by the traditions and techniques

of Byzantine art, which remained important in Romania long after

they had vanished from Western Europe. He used gold leaf

extensively, and religious themes. Additionally, he always used

collage techniques, and gradually these became more important

in his works, especially using old letters and papers. In contrast

to Romanian landscapes, the beauty of the desert regions in

America’s southwest, experienced during two vacations there

in 1976 and 1978 with Geoffrey Tyler, led him to paint desert

landscapes based on that region throughout the rest of his life.

In a continuing correspondence, Petrescu sent a long series

of small paintings as gifts, including birthday and Christmas cards,

four of which are included in the exhibition.

Shore, 2004

Mariana, 1976Self-portrait, 2004

The Australian Paintings and the Blake Engravings

Living in the United States, I had little chance to collect Australian art.

Of the four Australian works in the collection, two are in this exhibition.

The Sisters by Arthur Boyd is an important, relatively early work, probably

painted in western Victoria around 1949. Leonard French’s Three Towers

No. 1 was painted in Greece probably in the 1960s.

William Blake’s twenty-two proof engravings illustrating the Book

of Job are Blake’s greatest graphic work. Over a period of years, he did

a series of multiple image representations of the Job story in drawings

and watercolours. The finally engraved series was the culmination and

one of Blake’s last and greatest works. This Job set was among my

earliest acquisitions.

– Geoffrey Tyler

AboveBook of Job, plates by William Blake

Balcony, 1999

Theatre Boxes