Painting of the Week - Arthur Spooner
Portrait of a Lady in White Hat
This lovely British Impressionist portrait oil painting is by noted Nottinghamshire artist Arthur Spooner. Painted circa 1930 it is a charming head and shoulders portrait of a young lady in a white hat and summer dress. Her head is turned to her left so she is demurely gazing away from the artist/viewer as if lost in her own thoughts. The sitter is believed to be a waitress from a Nottingham coffee house. The painting was offered to the vendor's grandfather, who also attended Nottingham School of Art, for "the price of a three-piece suit" which Spooner required to go to the Royal Academy. There is lovely detail and brushwork in her facial features and cupid's bow red lips and the whole presentation is quite romantic. This is an excellent example of Spooner's work with interesting provenance.
Signed lower right.
Provenance. The previous Vendor`s Grandfather attended Nottingham School of Art and met Spooner there. By family tradition this portrait is believed to be a waitress from a Nottingham coffee house and was offered for "the price of a three-piece suit" which Spooner required to go to the Royal Academy.
Click the link below for painting
https://www.richardtaylorfineart.com/gallery/new/arthur-spooner/portrait-of-a-lady-in-white-hat