Religious Thought 1962 by John Bellany (RA, CBE)

In the context of his journey as a young artist, this is an important very early painting by John; embryonic with incredible complexity, showing a crucified Christ within an otherwise abstract motif, an early foretaste of religious symbolism. Religious Thought was produced when aged twenty, two years into his study at Edinburgh College of Art. Interestingly, there are elements reminiscent of the work of Alan Davie about the composition and motifs, an artist John admired greatly, especially in his early art-years