Old Age Project research & notes

This A5 ruled notebook was used to record daily sales during the Self-Portrait and Old Age exhibitions, which ran concurrently in the summer of 1979, commencing July 26.

At the conclusion of the two shows, Robert notes on 30 September: “It looks as though inclusive of Old Age/Self-Portrait, also drawings, I made approx. £6,000, which somewhat amazes me.” To put that in perspective, the takings were a little higher than the average UK wage for the time – and unusual level of income for the painter.

The notebook also contained various archival items, including:

Pithy quotes about old age – in Robert’s hand

Handwritten notes for the ‘Harry & Billy’ lecture (the one where Robert was disguised as a 100-year old man) to Plymouth Age Concern

The Age Concern Conference Programme with Lenkiewicz’s talk: Geriatrics versus Gerontology (mistitled as ‘Gerontology versus Gerontology’)

The exhibition price list

Correspondence from St Mary’s Hospital regarding a 109 year old resident (oldest woman in Britain)

Eliza Massey’s shopping list for items to disguise Robert as an old man for the ‘Harry & Billy’ lecture

Correspondence with Age Concern, including the 1981 press release on the occasion of Robert’s death hoax

Newspaper clippings

Notes of an interview with Kathleen Binns in 1984

A cryla study of an elderly couple holding hands before the sunset 315 x 135 mm