GALLERY

Born in 1971, Penelope Long is one of the rising young talents of the Melbourne art scene. A graduate of the School of Art at RMIT University, Long has exhibited consistently over the last ten years through solo exhibitions at a variety of galleries, group shows, the Melbourne International Festival and public art spaces all over Melbourne.
Known for her sensitive exploration of texture and ability to mimic the patina of age in classical artworks and the urban environment, she has been the subject of several articles in major metropolitan newspapers and continues to develop her distinctive style, exhibiting regularly.
Mother of Mercy is a carefully crafted fugue of expert brush marks designed to mimic the texture of traditional medieval icons, with their gold leaf surfaces.

A significant Australian artist, J.C. Waite was at one stage well known to the public for his early involvement in the commemorative painting of the first Commonwealth Parliament commissioned by a group of Melbourne businessmen in the late 1800s. Waite, the consortium?s first choice of artist for the commission, withdrew when disagreements over his fee and other issues broke out, paving the way for Tom Roberts, who later agreed to take on the massive exercise on more generous terms.

Influenced by Nicholas Chevalier, Waite?s painting of The Buffalo Ranges in the Mercy Archive reflects a sweeping vision of the landscape with a sensitivity to Australian lighting conditions and landscape features. The Buffalo Ranges is also concerned with the sentimental portrayal of anecdotal details from an idyllic scene.