While many artists flocked to more conceptual movements in the mid-20th century, Vickrey painted in a realist manner and embraced the time-honored medium of egg tempera, which he discovered through a course with Lewis E. York at Yale. Egg tempera is a challenging medium; its fast-drying time doesn’t allow for blending, thus Vickrey exploited other means to bring depth and feeling to his creations, including scraping, scumbling or using sandpaper for a textural effect. His compositions often included solitary figures, especially children and nuns but also animals, rendered from an elevated perspective in seemingly deserted spaces, and usually paired with objects creating interesting shadows and reflections.

More information about this painting...

Another Epiphany embodies many of these elements and, like a great deal of his work, has a dreamy, almost cinema-like feel. This quality is understandable given that Vickrey, a film buff, made seven short films at the beginning of his career before devoting himself entirely to painting and instilling an undercurrent of symbolism in his work.

Provenance:

From the artist
With ACA Galleries, New York, 1984
Eventually to private collection, Quaker Hill, Connecticut

Labels:

1). (handwritten on piece of tape verso) Second Epiphany / Egg Temp.
2). ACA Galleries, New York, New York, with painting description (including title as Another Epiphany)