ROBERT LENKIEWICZ "Paper Crowns aka The Painter With Mary" Signed Limited Edition 134/250

Artist: Robert Lenkiewicz (1941-2002)

Title: The Painter with Mary ("Paper Crowns"), Project 14

Medium: Signed Limited Edition Silkscreen Print

Edition: 134/250

Signature: Pencil Signed Lower Right

Provenance: Private Collection

Artwork Size: 94cm x 79cm (37" x 31")

Framed Size: TBC

Framing: Presented mounted, glazed and framed in an attractive decorative frame

Condition: The image is in good condition. The frame remains presentable with some signs of age and handling commensurate with display. Please examine all photographs carefully as they form part of the description.

About the Artwork

The Painter with Mary ("Paper Crowns"), Project 14 is one of the most recognisable and celebrated images created by Robert Lenkiewicz, one of Britain's most fascinating and uncompromising figurative painters of the late twentieth century. This signed limited edition silkscreen, numbered 134 from an edition of only 250, reproduces one of the defining works from Lenkiewicz's renowned Project 14: The Painter with Mary – A Study in Obsessional Behaviour.

The composition depicts the artist alongside his muse Mary, both adorned with improvised paper crowns that lend the work its popular title, Paper Crowns. Against a deep dark background, the figures emerge with remarkable intensity and emotional presence. The striking contrast between the richly modelled faces, vivid blue garment and the sculptural paper headdresses creates an image that is both visually arresting and psychologically complex.

More than a simple portrait, the work explores themes of love, dependency, idealisation and personal mythology. The fragile paper crowns appear simultaneously regal and absurd, reflecting Lenkiewicz's lifelong fascination with the contradictions of human behaviour. The image balances tenderness and vulnerability with theatrical symbolism, resulting in a composition that remains one of the artist's most memorable creations.

The quality of the original image is evident throughout the print, with subtle tonal transitions, rich colour saturation and a strong sense of depth. The composition demonstrates Lenkiewicz's exceptional ability to capture both physical likeness and emotional complexity, qualities that established his reputation as one of Britain's most distinctive figurative artists.

Measuring an impressive 79cm x 94cm (31" x 37"), the artwork has excellent wall presence and is further enhanced by its attractive mounted and glazed presentation. The overall framed size of approximately 86cm x 100cm (34" x 39") makes it a substantial statement piece suitable for both private and corporate collections.

Highly sought after by collectors of modern British art, works from the Mary Project are among the most desirable images produced by Lenkiewicz. Combining powerful symbolism, technical accomplishment and one of the artist's most important subject matters, this limited edition example represents an excellent opportunity to acquire a significant image from a landmark body of work.

About the Artist

Robert Oscar Lenkiewicz (1941-2002) was a British painter, writer and social commentator whose work explored many of the psychological and social issues that occupied modern society. Born in London, he later became closely associated with Plymouth, where he developed an extensive body of paintings, drawings and written studies that earned him a dedicated following amongst collectors and scholars alike.

Unlike many contemporary artists of his generation, Lenkiewicz remained committed to the traditions of figurative painting. His work combined outstanding technical skill with a deep interest in the lives, motivations and behaviour of his subjects. Throughout his career he produced a series of ambitious thematic projects examining topics such as vagrancy, mental disability, old age, jealousy and obsession.

Among these works, Project 14: The Painter with Mary – A Study in Obsessional Behaviour remains one of the most personal and celebrated. Centred upon his relationship with Mary, the project generated numerous paintings, studies and writings that explored the complexities of attachment, longing and emotional dependency. Many collectors regard the Mary paintings as among the finest and most significant works of Lenkiewicz's career.

Today, Lenkiewicz's reputation continues to grow. His paintings and limited editions are held in private collections throughout the United Kingdom and internationally, while his major projects are recognised for their unique combination of artistic mastery, psychological insight and social observation. His work remains immediately identifiable and continues to attract collectors seeking important examples of modern British figurative art.