oil on canvas, signed
framed

Provenance: We are grateful to Lachlan Goudie, artist, writer, broadcaster and the leading authority on the work of his father, for authenticating "Odalisque" and confirming that "Yes, I know this canvas very well. It’s one of my father’s finest nude paintings, a tribute in many ways to his artistic heroes Manet and Velazquez. The subject is my mother, Marie Renee Goudie, who was a muse for my father throughout his career. It’s a supremely confident piece of virtuoso painting, designed to create an impression of sensuality and exoticism. A wonderful work".
Note 1: The loose meaning of Odalisque in the world of art is “a reclining nude, female figure”. The word is French in form and Originates from the Turkish work “Odalik” meaning “Chambermaid” One of the earliest examples of a painting of this subject matter was Jean Auguste Dominique’s Ingres work painted in 1814 and titled “Grande Odalisque”. The painting was commissioned by Napoleon’s sister, and Ingres apparently drew inspiration upon the classical works of Dresden Venus by Giorgione and Titans Venus of Urbino. Since then the subject has been painted by many great artists such as Francois Boucher, Jules Joseph Lefebvre and More. Great Twentieth Century artists such as Matisse ,1926 (Metropolitan Museum) and Picasso’s “The Great Odalisque” painted in 1907 have visited this subject, as have Scottish artists, John Bellany and Goudie. Most of these artists have used their lovers or muses as the subject and Goudie’s picture is no different In Goudie’s painting the artist has used his wife as the model. Her reclining figure shown from the front looking sideways as if to tease the artist with her beauty. Her naked curves against a rich scarlet, Vermillion background arouse a strong sexuality. The flowers and drapery seek to soften the composition and create a colour contrast which clearly demonstrates a deep love between the artist and model. It has to be said that many nude painting are often rebuffed by a Traditionally Calvinistic Scottish art world, but in this picture Goudie has created a masterful work, of great passion to match the age old subject matter.
Note 2 : Alexander Goudie was born in 1933 at Paisley and, as a child, showed a prodigious talent for drawing. He studied at Glasgow School of Art when William Armour was head of drawing and painting and David Donaldson was the ubiquitous influence. Goudie, as a student at Glasgow, demonstrated his extraordinary ability. He received the Somerville Shanks Prize for Composition and, later, his draughtsmanship and sense of colour was recognized with the award of the Newbery Medal. As a young artist, he grew up admiring three great masters, Sir John Lavery, George Henry and James Guthrie; all artists who had bridged the gap between Glasgow and Paris. It was these artists’ glorious virtuoso control of oil paint that appealed to Goudie, as well as their genre and realist subject matter. Alexander Goudie was elected a member of the Glasgow Art Club in 1956 and a member of the Royal Society of Portrait Painters in 1970. He painted a portrait of the Queen for the Caledonian Club, London (1992/93), and exhibited widely, showing at Harari and Johns, in London, the Fine Art Society, Glasgow, and the Musee de la Faience, in Quimper. Sir Timothy Clifford, former Director of the National Galleries of Scotland, wrote: ''At his best, Goudie could draw better than any of his rivals in Scotland. There was magic and vision in his art and, I expect, history will be kind to him.'' Collections: 79 of Goudie's paintings are held in UK public collections including at Glasgow Museums & Galleries, The Hunterian, Rozelle House Galleries, Paisley Museum & Art Galleries and The Fleming Collection (London). Numerous prestigious corporate collections in the UK and France and in private collections around the world.