Lot Essay
The present work is a study for 'Triarchy' (108 in. long) which dates from 1958-60. The artist discusses this sculpture and 'Diarchy' in T. Woolcombe, op. cit, pp.40-43: 'While I was in the Notting Hill studio (1955-59) I worked constantly, generally on larger work which seemed to go in series, but I made one piece you might call 'King and Queen' of two seated figures , again a slab joined together. I also made a bigger sculpture with three figures, nine feet long, and I did not know what to call them. One had two heads and one had three heads, and an approximate number of arms and legs, and it was Gerald Forty at the British Council who suggested the titles: 'Diarchy is rule by two, Triarchy is rule by three'. I was not so much interested in the ruling business; it reminded me of Henry Moore's King and Queen, which I never really liked very much anyway; I had seen them at the foundry, and I liked his other work much better. But Diarchy and Triarchy were suitable titles for both, and they were shown in the Venice Biennale of 1958'.