Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 14

Portrait of a Lady Arranging Flowers - British 1940's art oil painting

Circa 1940

About the Item

This superb British portrait oil painting is attributed to circle of Festus Kelly. Painted circa 1940 it is a half length portrait of an elegant lady in a light blue dress, pearls and her dark hair up behind her head. She is arranging gorgeous orange chrysanthemums in a vase and is turning to gaze at the artist/viewer with a slight smile. She is against a simple background which makes her really standout. The palette of blue and orange is very vibrant. The sitter is unknown but she bears an uncanny resemblance to Wallace Simpson! This is a lovely portrait really capturing the stylish glamour of the 1940's Provenance. Yorkshire estate. Condition. Oil on canvas. Image size 40 inches by 30 inches and in good condition. Frame. Housed in an ornate gilt frame, 48 inches by 38 inches and in good condition. Sir Gerald Festus Kelly P.R.A. (9 April 1879 – 5 January 1972) was a British painter best known for his portraits. Gerald Kelly was born in London, educated at Eton College and Trinity Hall, Cambridge and later lived and studied art in Paris. James McNeill Whistler was an early influence. Kelly travelled much, visiting Spain, America, South Africa and Burma. In 1920 he married Lilian Ryan, who became his model for a celebrated series of portraits. These were exhibited under the title Jane, followed by a roman numeral that corresponded to the year of exhibition. Other sitters included T. S. Eliot, Ralph Vaughan Williams and Somerset Maugham, whom he painted eighteen times. Maugham, a lifelong friend of Kelly, wrote an introduction to a catalogue (1950) of an exhibition of Kelly's work. Maugham regularly portrayed Kelly in his works, as Lionel Hillier in Cakes and Ale, as Frederick Lawson in Of Human Bondage and as O'Malley in His Excellency presenting him as "the young Irish painter called O'Malley", and dedicating Ashenden to him. He became a favourite painter of the Royal Family. He was elected to the Royal Academy in 1930, was the Academy's keeper 1943-45 and President, 1949-54. Kelly held a number of official positions, such as his membership of the Royal Fine Arts Commission, 1938-43, and was knighted in 1945. The artist John Napper worked as his assistant. Kelly died in Exmouth in 1972. He is represented in many public collections, including the Tate Gallery, which holds seven works.
  • Creation Year:
    Circa 1940
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 48 in (121.92 cm)Width: 38 in (96.52 cm)Depth: 2 in (5.08 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement & Style:
  • Circle Of:
    Sir Gerald Festus Kelly (1879 - 1972, British)
  • Period:
  • Condition:
  • Gallery Location:
    London, GB
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU853114446582
More From This SellerView All
  • Portrait of Lillian Gardiner Mrs Jack Allen British Edwardian art oil painting
    Located in London, GB
    This superb British portrait oil painting is by noted artist George Spencer Watson and is dateable to 1913. The sitter is Lillian Gardiner ( Mrs ...
    Category

    1910s Realist Portrait Paintings

    Materials

    Oil

  • Portrait of Mrs William Tisdall Elsie Gardiner - British Edwardian oil painting
    Located in London, GB
    This superb large British Edwardian exhibited portrait oil painting is by noted artist George Spencer Watson. It was painted in 1909 and exhibite...
    Category

    Early 1900s Realist Portrait Paintings

    Materials

    Oil

  • Race Horse Phoenix with Guilermo Kemmis - British 19th century art oil painting
    Located in London, GB
    This superb British 19th century equine oil painting is by noted horse lover, George Gascoyne. Painted in 1889, this French born chestnut horse is Phoenix. While he was essentially a miler, Phoenix (sometimes seen spelled as “Phenix”) came from a family that had produced Classic winners in France at up to 15 furlongs. He proved an excellent sire following his export to Argentina, becoming the foundation stallion for Guillermo Kemmis' breeding program at Haras Las Rosas. This painting is from his time in Argentina with Kemmis. Phoenix is depicted in a flat landscape against a vivid blue sky. A gentleman, possibly his owner, Guillermo Kemmis, stands smiling in front of him holding his reigns and gives perspective to how tall Phoenix is. Although in profile, Phoenix is turning to look at the viewer, his chestnut coat gleaming and his anatomy perfectly portrayed. This is a superb Victorian equine portrait of a noted horse in the 19th century and is a lovely example of Gascoyne's work as a horse lover. Signed with initials and dated GG 1889 lower right. Provenance. Inscribed "Phenix" (Cymbal -- Belle-Etoile) by George Gascoyne, Sittingbourne, Kent to reverse. Condition. Oil on canvas, 36 inches by 28 inches and in good condition. Frame. Housed in a wooden frame, 44 inches by 36 inches and in good condition. HORSE BIOGRAPHY Phoenix (FR) 1875 – 1893? Chestnut horse. Cymbal (GB) x Belle Etoile (FR), by First Born (FR) Family 25. While he was essentially a miler, Phoenix (sometimes seen spelled as “Phenix”) came from a family that had produced Classic winners in France at up to 15 furlongs. He proved an excellent sire following his export to Argentina, becoming the foundation stallion for Guillermo Kemmis' breeding program at Haras Las Rosas. Race record. Complete record unavailable but as follows: 1878: Won Prix de la Forêt (FR, 1600mT, Longchamp) 1879: Won July Cup (ENG, 6FT, Newmarket July). Won Rous Memorial Stakes (ENG, 8FT, Ascot). Won Bunbury Stakes (ENG, Newmarket). 2nd Rosebery Handicap (ENG, Epsom) 1880: Won Lennox Stakes (ENG, Goodwood) As a stallion: Phoenix was the Argentine champion sire six times, reaching the top in 1887-1890, 1892 and 1895. Notable progeny: Hawk Eye (ARG), Lenape (ARG), Marinera (ARG), Osiris (ARG), San Martín (ARG), Surplice (ARG) Connections: Phoenix was owned by Comte Frédéric de Lagrange. After being exported to Argentina, he stood at Haras Las Rosas, the stud farm of leading Argentine breeder Guillermo Kemmis. His last known foals were born in 1894. Pedigree notes: Phoenix is outcrossed through five generations. Sired by Cymbal, a son of 1861 Derby Stakes winner Kettledrum, he is out of Belle Etoile, whose half sister Garenne (by Gladiator or Ethirion or Freystrop) is the second dam of 1894 Prix Royal-Oak (French St. Leger) winner Gouvernail and the third dam of 1894 Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby...
    Category

    1880s Realist Animal Paintings

    Materials

    Oil

  • Young Boy - Scottish art 19th Century oil painting male portrait ginger hair
    Located in London, GB
    A fine Scottish portrait oil painting of a sweet young boy with bright blue eyes. This quality portrait dates to circa 1900 and is housed in a fine Watts frame. A beautiful painting....
    Category

    19th Century Realist Portrait Paintings

    Materials

    Oil

  • The Soldier's Farewell - Scottish Victorian art Interior portrait oil painting
    By Robert Gemmell Hutchison
    Located in London, GB
    This lovely Scottish interior genre oil painting is by noted Scottish artist Robert Gemmell Hutchison. Painted circa 1890 Hutchison painted several versions of this scene of a young ...
    Category

    19th Century Realist Interior Paintings

    Materials

    Oil

  • Portrait of a Lady in a Landscape - British 19thC art oil painting
    By Annie Louisa Swynnerton
    Located in London, GB
    This stunning British 19th century Pre-Raphaelite portrait oil painting is attributed to famous Manchester born artist and elected associate of the Royal Academy, Annie Louisa Swynne...
    Category

    19th Century Realist Portrait Paintings

    Materials

    Canvas, Oil

You May Also Like
  • Giovanni Monaco , Portrait Monastic Monk, Classical Realism. Florence Academy
    By Angel Ramiro Sanchez
    Located in Houston, TX
    Originally offered at $2000. Giovanni Monaco is a realistic portrait of a monastic monk that Angel Ramiro Sanchez know in Florence where he teaches at the Florence Academy...
    Category

    2010s Realist Portrait Paintings

    Materials

    Oil, Wood Panel

  • Polish Judaica Portrait of Hasidic Rabbi Shtetl Tailor Oil Painting
    Located in Surfside, FL
    Older, realistic portrait of an older Jewish shtetl tailor by Polish artist. Here the artist conveys a sense of quiet grandeur through the eyes of his subject and the way it's render...
    Category

    20th Century Realist Portrait Paintings

    Materials

    Canvas, Oil, Board

  • Portrait of Languid Girl in Blue Camisole 18th century Italian Rococo Master
    Located in Stockholm, SE
    Attributed to Pietro Antonio Rotari (1707 - 1762), Italian painter of the Rococo era. His portraits, mostly of women, are renowned for being beautiful and realistic. The details and ...
    Category

    Mid-18th Century Realist Portrait Paintings

    Materials

    Canvas, Wood, Oil

  • Wild Bill 1873, 53x 40", oil on canvas Large Old West Yellowstone cowboy style
    By Ceravolo
    Located in Southampton, NY
    Wild Bill Hickok 1873 by Ceravolo is an oil on canvas featuring Ceravolo's trademark illusion brush strokes painted over his oil on canvas painting. T...
    Category

    1990s Realist Portrait Paintings

    Materials

    Canvas, Oil

  • "Untitled, " Oil Painting
    Located in Denver, CO
    Shana Levenson's "Untitled" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a close up portrait of a female model. This is a secondary market work ...
    Category

    2010s Realist Portrait Paintings

    Materials

    Oil, Panel

  • "Untitled, " Oil Painting
    By Sharon Pomales
    Located in Denver, CO
    Sharon Pomales's (US based) "Untitled" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a female model with blonde hair. This is a secondary market w...
    Category

    2010s Realist Portrait Paintings

    Materials

    Oil, Panel

Recently Viewed

View All