Smudge Begging, 1978
Signed 'Craxton', lower right; dedicated and dated 'for Richard Riley on his birthday '78', lower left
Tempera on board
30 x 23.5 cm (11 3/4 x 9 1/4 in)
NFS
In Smudge Begging, the big blocky form of Smudge makes him look like a bullyboy of a cat, but Riley
describes him as not nearly so massive as Tiddles. Here he is shown sitting up on his haunches. The
painting, in acrylic on board – as were so many of Craxton's later works – was a birthday present to
Riley, who was particularly fond of the cat. 'Smudge was adorable,' he says. 'He really was.' (Andrew
Lambirth, Craxton's Cats, Thames & Hudson, London, 2024, p.78)
Provenance
Private Collection, U.K.
Literature
Andrew Lambirth, Craxton's Cats, Thames & Hudson, London, 2024, pp.78-79 (ill. col. p.79)
Exhibited
London, Christopher Hull Gallery, 1978 (where titled Kidderpore Cat)
London, Osborne Samuel, Craxton's Cats, 19th September – 4th October 2024
