In 1983, the Rococo flourished vibrantly, then to excess, as is its nature. Preceded by Whose Favorite Bird was the Peacock? and Topiary Garden, the Pleasure Gardens were exhibited in September. "Subjects are animals, birds (many peacocks), ladies and gentlemen in eighteenth century attire, lush vegetation and gazebos, summer houses, rivers, streams, fish, boats, mansions, corridors and arcades arranged according to the precepts of abstract-expressionist space."4 A Scene From The Life of Giotto, based on that artist's The Vision of Anna, c. 1307, is characteristic. Other works include Aquaria and the inward-looking My Soul's Desire.
With that exhibition in progress, Collazo started a series of a dozen paintings, including The Astronomy Lesson, High Tea and Floribundia. The "Floribundia" paintings mark the abandonment of "pretty", "nostalgic" subject matter.5 A second series of a dozen paintings followed immediately -- the first of the Early Tapestries, the beginning of the artist's mature work.
The Rococo Works of Raphael Collazo:
Notes
4 Steve Bush, [nom de plume of Ernest Acker-Gherardino], statement, Raphael Collazo, New York, 1983, for the exhibition Raphael Collazo Paintings, Steve Bush Exhibit Room, New York, September 16-October 15, 1983, curated by Acker-Gherardino.
5 E. Acker [Ernest Acker-Gherardino], unpublished manuscript, Hanging Ralph Collazo's Exhibition in Art Lobby, New York, 1984.