the meal. 1969. ORIGINAL DOCUMENTATION OF THE FAMOUS “EAT ART” PERFORMANCE.

London: Art for All, 1969

24.5 x 20cm, letter printed letter with red rubber stamp impression and gold ink signature. The paper was deliberately dyed and then partially burnt by the artists.

This is the invitation letter issued in advance of The Meal cooked for the trio of Gilbert, George and “their guest” David Hockney by Isabella Beeton (who was dead but whose famous book they used to create the menu) and Doreen Marriot on Wednesday 14th May in Sundridge Avenue, Bromley, Kent, UK. The meal consisted of 16 courses and was served by Richard Wood, who was Princess Margaret’s butler at the time. The letter is signed by Anthony Matthews. The food came from the recipes in Mrs. Beeton’s Book of Household Management originally published in 1861: the book is generally regarded as a classic of English cookery although Mrs Beeton died soon after publication and did not really supply all the recipes. The event was planned as an artistic embodiment of that very Englishness from two artists who made their public lives a cliched reflection of the middle class values of that country.

As ever burnt and deliberately mis-coloured with the red stamped block irregular in its impression. Previously folded for mailing but no address or other text than the gold felt tipped signature of Matthews.

Extremely rare documentation from a key moment in performance and conceptual art.