Frank Thomas Copnall (1870-1949)
| Artist Name | Frank Thomas Copnall (1870-1949) |
|---|---|
| Title | Portrait of Mrs Charlotte Illingworth (nee Boyle) 1854-1936 |
| Description | This impressive British Edwardian portrait oil painting is by noted artist Frank Thomas Copnall. It was painted circa 1910 and hung in the Williamson Art Gallery and Museum in Birkenhead, Merseyside. The sitter is Mrs Charlotte Illingworth nee Boyle, born in 1854 and died in 1936, living to 82. She would have been about 56 years old in this portrait. The entire focus of the painting is her face. This is the face of a woman who has seen life and is still standing. The brushwork perfectly depicts her aging but beautiful face and her light blue eyes, gazing resolutely to her right. The firm set of her mouth suggests she is taking her secrets to the grave. There is no jewellery, no overt demonstration of wealth, she is not pictured in a lovely interior, but she was no doubt the wife of someone wealthy that Copnall painted her portrait. This is an excellent example of Copnall's work and has graced the walls of Birkenhead Art Gallery and Museum in its time. Signed lower right. |
| Provenance | Label to back from Williamson Art Gallery & Museum, Birkenhead. Stock no 4194. |
| Medium | Oil on Canvas |
| Size | 20 x 24 inches |
| Frame | House in a gallery frame. Framed size is 31 inches by 27 inches and in good condition. |
| Condition | Good condition. |
| Biography | Frank Thomas Copnall (1870-1949) was a turn-of-the-century and early twentieth century portraitist, who exhibited over 50 pictures – mainly portraits - at the Royal Academy and 20 at the Royal Society of Arts, during a long and distinguished career. Born on the Isle of Wight, he settled in Hoylake in Cheshire and established a very successful studio in Liverpool, which was widely patronised by the wealthy merchant class of the city. Copnall became something of an artistic institution in Liverpool and rose to become President of both the Liver Sketching Club and the Liverpool Art Club. The family home was a hive of artistic activity: his wife, Theresa, was an exhibited artist in her own right and Frank’s nephew Edward, who came to work in the family business, became the well-known sculptor, Edward Bainbridge Copnall. Copnall’s portraiture was faithful and accurate but could also be impressionistic and sketchy in the manner of Sargent, with bold dashes of colour. We have not managed to trace the pretty young female sitter, although her driving bonnet dates her to around 1916-20. Copnall’s work can be found in a variety of museums, galleries and institutions, from the Whitworth Art Gallery in Manchester to the Royal College of Surgeons and the Docks Museum. |
| Price | £3200 |
