* JOHN BYRNE RSA (SCOTTISH 1940 - 2023) L'ANGE NOIR

watercolour and pastel on paper, signed and titled, dated 1991-1992 label verso mounted, framed and under glass image size 112cm x 134cm, overall size 135cm x 157cm Label verso: The Fine Art Society Ltd., London Exhibition history: The Fine Art Society, John Byrne : Then Till Now, Edinburgh 2019. Note: Around 1991-92 John Byrne made a series of artworks featuring angels. "L'Ange Noir (The Black Angel) depicts an androgynous angel - half male and half female. The male side of the face shows stubble on the chin, short hair and a smaller eye. The female side has a wider eye, a clear complexion and flame red hair. The wings are complete on the female side but broken on the male side. There's little doubt that Byrne was expressing the complexities of human relationships and in the informed opinion of the vendor, L'Ange Noir is a reflection of issues John Byrne felt at the time in his relationship with Tilda Swinton.