The Erin Pearson Collection

A private collection · Brisbane

Still Life

Ursula Heerdt

The Work

A still life worked thickly in oil: white and blue irises in a dark vessel, a copper bowl, an olive jug and a blue-handled implement gathered on a blue and white cloth, against a mottled green-grey ground. The forms are flattened and the paint is left standing, so the picture reads as much through its surface as its subject. Heerdt painted it in 1960 while completing her diploma of art teaching, and its palette — teal, aqua, olive, ochre — places it squarely in mid-century Australian painting.

Year
1960
Medium
Oil on board
Image size
450 mm x 605 mm
Framed size
670 mm x 835 mm
Catalogue
0013

Provenance

I found this piece online and was immediately drawn to it. At the time, I purchased it with the intention to resell it in the studio, but the beauty of the painting made it irresistible. It came with all provenance documented on the back, enhancing its historical and artistic value.


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Framing

Framed with a custom mid-century-inspired design: black bean trim, hand fabric-wrapped backing, and a black bean float frame. The framing complements the painting's mid-century aesthetic while enhancing its presence and depth.

About Ursula Heerdt

Ursula Heerdt was an artist active in mid-20th century Australia and was a member of the Royal South Australian Society of Arts. In 1960, she was completing a diploma of art teaching, during which she created this piece as part of her training in generic painting. Her work demonstrates a careful balance of colour, composition, and still life form, reflecting the style and sensibilities of the period.