Description

The Fallen (2001-2022): Original Recovery Art Oil Painting

The Fallen (2001-2022) is an extraordinary, large-scale original oil painting on canvas by South African contemporary artist Lucille Fernandes-Stangl. Measuring 120 cm x 145 cm, this monumental artwork represents a physical and emotional timeline spanning twenty-one years. Depicting a vulnerable figure resting across dynamic fabric folds alongside atmospheric light and interior accents, the painting captures the raw intersection between vulnerability, surrender, and eventual transformation.

“I began this painting in active addiction. I had received distinctions six months before for my work and six months later, I failed. That’s addiction. Twenty one years later, in recovery from addiction and with a solo show approaching, I finished it. Adjusting composition and foreshortening, the story unfolded. She was me. This painting is a collaboration between my active addiction self and my recovery self. Such a work cannot be repeated. Going back into addiction is not an option.”

— Lucille Fernandes-Stangl, Artist Statement

In contemporary recovery art, few works embody the literal passage of personal healing as directly as this canvas. By bridging two distinct eras of the artist’s life, The Fallen (2001-2022) functions as both a historical record and a powerful testament to psychological resilience, making it an irreplaceable centerpiece for serious fine art collectors, gallery curation, and private collections.

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Artistic Technique, Color Palette & Medium

Executed entirely in studio using archival, professional-grade Winsor & Newton oil colours on canvas, the artwork combines early energetic mark-making with refined compositional adjustments and foreshortening. The multi-layered impasto surface creates rich tactile depth where rich drapery and dramatic lighting interact across the canvas.

The color palette balances intense warmth and quiet shadow:

• Rich Purples & Crimson Drapery: Deep violet and magenta tones flow through the cascading bedding, creating a sense of weight and emotional intensity.
• Luminous Flesh & Earth Tones: Warm ochres, soft olive hues, and golden skin tones give the reclining figure a grounded, living presence.
• Atmospheric Sunset & Ambient Lighting: Soft twilight hues radiating through the window contrast with dark interior shadows and warm lamp accents.

All materials and pigments utilized meet high lightfast and archival standards, ensuring long-term structural durability and color permanence.

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The Narrative: Dual-Era Collaboration & Recovery Art

The Fallen (2001-2022) occupies a unique place in contemporary fine art as a direct collaboration between active addiction and long-term recovery. Returning to a canvas after twenty-one years required refining the foreshortening and narrative balance while honoring the raw truth of its original inception.

By transforming personal struggle and eventual recovery into a unified studio original, Lucille Fernandes-Stangl offers collectors an authentic visual reflection on hope, identity, and the permanent shift away from active addiction.

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Artwork Specifications & Fine Art Provenance

This original canvas is an authentic studio work from Johannesburg, South Africa, and includes complete provenance records.

Artwork Details:

• Artwork Title: The Fallen (2001-2022)
• Artist: Lucille Fernandes-Stangl
• Year of Creation: 2001-2022
• Medium: Archival Oil on Canvas
• Dimensions: 120 cm wide x 145 cm high
• Framing: Unframed canvas (Stretched on professional studio wood strainers)
• Provenance: Direct from the artist’s studio (Johannesburg, South Africa)
• Shipping: Fully insured, professional global packaging and worldwide delivery
• Certificate of Authenticity: Accompanied by an official, hand-signed Certificate of Authenticity. Preservation follows standard international art conservation guidelines.

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Care & Display Guidelines

To preserve the archival quality and rich impasto texture of this large-scale oil painting, display indoors away from direct, unshielded sunlight and excessive moisture. Clean gently using a dry, soft microfiber cloth or camel-hair brush to maintain the delicate paint surface.