Wall of Light Red Day Leaving 2005, by Sean Scully

A large and important oil painting by internationally renowned artist Sean Scully has been placed on view to visitors at Chatsworth. Wall of Light Red Day Leaving 2005, is by Sean Scully (born 1945) and has been purchased by the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire for their personal collection.

Wall of Light Red Day Leaving 2005, by Sean Scully

Sean Scully was born in Dublin in 1945, studied to be an artist in England and moved permanently to America in 1975. His work is held in major museums around the world and an exhibition of his Wall of Light series of paintings is currently touring the USA. He lives and works in New York, Barcelona and Mooseurach near Munich.

It is at this last location, a rural town at the base of the Alps, where he painted Wall of Light Red Day Leaving (2005). Of his three studios it is the only one in which he paints in contact with nature. This painting, although abstract, refers to the visual world. As its title suggests and the blocks of deep red, orange, grey and black paint indicate, the painting is about the end of the day, when the warm tones of sunset give over to the blackness of night, and when light gives way to darkness.

The hanging of this painting on the visitor route continues the Duke and Duchess's commitment to share works of art from their personal collection with our visitors.