Size: F15, 65cm × 54cm, ~26″ x 22″ (estimate)
Media: Brush, Oil paint on Canvas
Date: March 25, 1975
Where: Painted at Fayence, France
Signature: “christine benson”
Currently: Bought by a Czechoslovakian
Sea Treasure or Trésor de la mer is another work of the imagination similar in conception to the Rock painting (Le Retour aux Sources). A young attractive woman integrated into nature, this time water. The hands of nature offering up an oyster and pearl to complete the story. Christine may have been subconsciously influenced by her time living in Japan and the home of the famous Ama divers. Although, this is clearly not one of them.
Unfortunately, I have a very poor photographic record of the whole painting with the best photograph only showing a close up of the face. So I have chosen to present both here so you too can get a better sense of the “gentle and serene” expression detailed in the diary entries.
Diary Entries
| February 10, 1975 | 2hrs on new water painting. Went well. Perhaps will call [it] ‘Treasure of the Sea’ charcoaled in. |
| February 11, 1975 | 2½hrs on ‘Sea Treasure’ Paint drawing of hands – mine from mirror, difficult. |
| February 12, 1975 | 3hrs ‘Sea Treasure’ Paint drawing of face & covered canvas with umber scrub. Worked well in AM on new painting, it’s really holding my interest. |
| February 14, 1975 | 3hrs ‘Sea Treasure’ background. Awful realisation this evening – that regardless of aches of aging and the multiplying wrinkles – the spirit still regards everything in a youthful & romantic light & wants to be part of it. I think & find that is v. sad. |
| February 19, 1975 | 3hrs ‘Sea’ finished background. After a disappointing time doing the sea I suddenly got it moving and making sense at lunchtime – In the aft[ernoon] I worked with the windows wide open and the sun streaming in! Hugh brought back paintings & ‘Hope‘ has a near hole on top of hair, obviously been gouged by metal frame. I don’t think I will exhibit it again. He said Mme said my paintings caused a lot of comment and questions. |
| February 20, 1975 | 5hrs today on ‘Sea’. Face completed, not eyes. Became completely absorbed in ‘Sea’ face (Penelope?) am using mirror for light & shade effects, but the aging reflection is a bit shattering -I wonder how other women accept it – I suppose being busy is the answer. Men don’t notice, being supported by their egos. |
| February 21, 1975 | 2½hrs ‘Sea’ eyes & mouth. This calm and productive week has done me a lot of good. Felt cheerful and positively bouyant by evening. |
| February 25, 1975 | 3½hrs ‘Sea’ Changed left eye, mouth and did ear. Had a slight temperature all day hot head & shivery, but the absorption of the painting made me forget that & aching gums. Painted the prettiest ear. Still don’t like the mouth. |
| February 26, 1975 | 3 hrs ‘Sea’ went well. Painting went well on soulders except I had to work from my broken one in mirror. |
| February 27, 1975 | 1½hrs ‘Sea’ I’VE WON SOMETHING!!! A diploma I think, plus an invitation to exhibit in the Grand Prix de Rome! In the attestation Mme Sontag Presidente – says I got the vote of the jury – ‘ Toutes mes felicitations, Execellent pas loin du Grand Prix’!! I can’t believe it. Out of 157 exhibitors too. Even my prudent Margareta thinks I should pay the 870F (& Jane also) to send 3 pictures to Rome. |
| March 5, 1975 | 1½hrs ‘Sea’ hands. PM 2hrs ‘Sea’ hands. Quiet day of painting and much needed. |
| March 6, 1975 | 4 hrs ‘Sea’ hands |
| March 8, 1975 | 5¼hrs ‘Sea’, 50 hrs to date & I don’t like it. Spent all morning painting one hand. I enjoyed myself but later found the contrast to great. Sadly I don’t think the painting comes off. |
| March 9, 1975 | ‘Trésor de la mer’, 5 hrs ‘Sea’ finished 56 hrs (later 3 hrs more) 59hrs. The final enjoyable day and I decided at the end that I do like the painting after all. It’s peaceful to look at, and one thing I have enjoyed painting it more than any that I have done in a long time and it is brought me back my lost concentration and absorption in work, still a couple of things to change. |
| March 10, 1975 | 1hr alterations & finishing touches on ‘Sea Treasure’. Found myself at loose ends at 11 a.m. having finished sea treasure, done the laundry and the house being clean. Took painting to Lenches it really fascinated Ray and Jane liked it very much. |
| March 25, 1975 | 2 hrs ‘Sea Treasure’ final alterations, forehead & mouth & sea. Altered girl’s expression in ‘Sea Treasures’ – am now satisfied with it. She’s gentle and serene, without original sneer. Tackled sea and reflections again for umpteenth time. |
| April 15, 1975 | Mme Delassens & Rene brought back ‘Nymphs‘ with news – nothing selling in Paris. They liked ‘Sea Treasure’ better than ‘Rock‘! |
| July 15, 1975 | Small improvement in ‘Sea Treasure’. Feel alive, happy and full of peace. Secret a good TM. I had forgotten the blissful feeling having been all out of kilter with late nights and early morning visitors. Made tiny alteration to ‘Sea Treasure’ strengthened water on hands & wrists – and the shadowed cheek. Noise of music and man shouting into mike selling fridges and washing machines down in the main street destroyed my concentration. So got off a letter to Margie instead and then went shopping. Monsieur Bellone helped me carry down paintings for photographing. All the old ladies were fascinated with them. |
| September 8, 1975 | Monsieur Cacle called said he had six people, including a Parisian gallery owner, he’d like to bring up to see my work! They were visiting Mureille(?) but she wasn’t there heureusement for me! One lady wanted to buy my cat painting – but then settled for me doing hers instead from photos. Said she only wanted a small one, how much? ‘only 1000 francs’ says I, fine says she! One lady said she was full of admiration for my paintings – but the expert gave me the same advice that all from Paris have – to keep on with my surrealist paintings in the fine technique. I am very happy about that. He also raved about ‘The Rock‘ and my ‘Water Lady’ [meaning ‘Sea Treasure’]. |
| July 27, 1976 | A day to remember when I’m old and gray!! Dina arrived at 9:30 AM for her first sitting – was up at 6:00 AM rearranging studio for portrait painting. At 11:15 Danielle called up and what was my last what was my last price on ‘the Water Girl’ and could a large party of Czechoslovakians see my atelier! Diana and her husband left – then there was an attractive French woman to sketch while Danielle took the Czechs all over my place and kept coming down for prices of paintings – in the middle of this the Sanderson’s (PC’s ex-family) with Charles and Allan arrived! Sent them up to serve themselves from the bar while the Czechs deliberated over different paintings. In desperation I accepted 2000 francs offer for ‘Sea Treasure’ and my beloved ‘Unicorn’ . Went off to lunch with the Sanderson’s and Allah at the France. During heavy rain was going to start work on portrait when a German couple wanted their children sketched! I worked same and gave them wine and lemonade – they gave me 10 extra francs for the wine and 60F. they thought I was a courageous person! |
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