1983

The Fall

American (born Ireland), born 1945

Composed of five attached canvases, each differing in depth and size, The Fall has a distinctly sculptural presence. Unlike Scully’s illusionistic paintings of the early 1970s, this work asserts its physicality by pushing forward into the space occupied by the viewer. This confrontational quality is further emphasized by Scully’s rich and vibrant palette of colors—predominantly brick red, vibrant orange, and deep black. The title The Fall is taken from Albert Camus’s novel of that name, a philosophical meditation on humankind’s fall from grace.