All texts copyright Richard Shillitoe
the arrow and the serpent
1944
Oil on paper.
28 x 21¼in. (71 x 54cm.)
Inscribed verso with the artist’s name, the title and date.
Provenance
Private collection.
Lawrences Auctioneers of Crewkerne, 22 Jan 2016, lot 1644.
Exhibited
Bradford, Cartwright Hall, 1954, no. 490.
Penzance, Newlyn Gallery, 1961, no. 20.
The title indicates that Colquhoun had the Qabalistic Tree of Life in mind, as it makes reference to two
different routes to enlightenment. It is sometimes said, for example, that the path of initiation follows the
coiling of the serpent upon the Tree but the way of illumination follows the path of the arrow. It is difficult,
however, to make a clear link between the title and image.