Provenance

Acquired from the artist; by descent

Note: Writing in his autobiography Merchant noted:  "Barbara Hepworth's influence on my work extended long after our friendship was broken by her death. I had shown her one of my earliest versions of 'Growing Form" some ten inches high. The next day, 18 June 1973, she wrote to me:

'Thank you for showing me the new work. I really do think that you would get a great kick out of developing this piece to six or seven feet. It need not cost much, but it would give you such a joy to see the way these forms would develop.

I look forward to hearing that you have acquired a place in which to do it, and I hope that we can meet again before long.'

Over the next ten years 'Growing Form' amply lived up to its name."