William Henry Margetson (1861-1940)

A Lass that Loved a Sailor

This lovely British Edwardian portrait oil painting is by noted artist William Henry Margetson. He was known for his aesthetic full-length portraits of women, often in hats, in an interior, perhaps arranging flowers. Our painting is perhaps more natural and charming and painted circa 1901. A dark-haired young woman is perched on the wall of her house, next to some fishing nets drying. The house abutts the harbour and the sea can be seen coming up to the wall. She is dressed in a red and white check dress and lilac cardigan and is gazing towards the water as if willing her lover to sail into the harbour and home.  Beyond her, green leaded windows are open and a mass of wild flowers grow out of the wall below. More cottages can be seen as well as a rowing boat pulled out of the water. The little details and brushwork are just superb. A really lovely Edwardian portrait and an excellent example of Margetson's work.

Signed W H MARGETSON lower right

Provenance Acquired by the grandfather of the previous owner in the 1940s.
                   Two labels verso plus chalk marks.


Click the link below for this painting
https://www.richardtaylorfineart.com/artist/margetson/a-lass-that-loved-a-sailor

Joseph Henderson (1832-1908)

Coastal Seascape with Children

This lovely Scottish Impressionist Victorian coastal oil painting is by noted artist Joseph Henderson. Painted circa 1880, the composition is a coastal seascape with three children in the foreground gathering driftwood. Beyond them are choppy waves, seagulls wheeling and a couple of boats under a sunny sky. Henderson's Impressionistic brushwork is superb and show influences of William McTaggart and the heavy white impasto on the crest of the waves is perfect. The contrast between the beach, sea and sky is to great effect. This is an excellent Scottish Impressionist painting with interesting subject matter and a superb example of Joseph Henderson's work.

Signed lower right.

Provenance William Carlton label verso. 

Click the link below for this painting
https://www.richardtaylorfineart.com/gallery/seascapes/joseph-henderson/coastal-seascape-with-children

Happy Mother's Day. The weather here in the UK is improving, the hens are laying and the wallflowers are out in the garden. Spring is on its way. 


Andrew Law (1873-1967)

Wallflowers Floral Still Life

This rich and vibrant Scottish still life oil painting is by noted Scottish artist Andrew Law. It was painted circa 1920 and has a Glasgow Club exhibition label verso entitling the painting The Lustre Jug. The composition is an arrangement of orange, yellow and red wallflowers in a superb decorative lustre jug. The flowers are so rich in colour against a dark green background and the jug gleaming in the light. This is a great example of Scottish art from the twenties and an excellent example of Andrew Law's work. 

Signed lower left.

Provenance. Glasgow Art Club label verso. 

Click below for the link to this painting
https://www.richardtaylorfineart.com/artist/andrew-law/wallflowers-floral-still-life

Norah Neilson Gray (1882-1931)

Exotic - Portrait of Rita McIlraith

This stunning much exhibited 1920's Scottish portrait oil painting is by noted Glasgow Girl artist Norah Neilson Gray. Painted circa 1923, the model for the painting was Rita McIlraith but the artist did not want to use her name in the title and it was called 'Exotic.'
Norah Neilson Gray was a Scottish artist known for her striking portraits and remarkable ability to capture the essence of the sitter. She achieved international status and recognition during her lifetime, and was one of the most esteemed female painters of the early twentieth century.
She was a member of The Glasgow Girls, a group of women artists and designers active in Glasgow at the turn of the twentieth century. The group including Margaret and Frances MacDonald, Jessie M. King, Annie French, Helen Paxton Brown, Jessie Wylie Newbery, Ann Macbeth, Bessie MacNicol, Norah Neilson Gray, Stansmore Dean, Eleanor Allen Moore, De Courcy Lewthwaite Dewar, the silversmith Agnes Banks Harvey and Christian Jane Fergusson. Their paintings including Exotic were exhibited in Kirkcudbright in July and August 2010.
The painting is a seated portrait of Rita McIIraith, sat in the lotus position in a meditative pose, gazing serenely before her. She is wearing a fabulous orange and floral off the shoulder dress and in her arms are yellow and white flowers. The heavy impasto and vibrant colours are superb. A stunning oil painting by an incredibly talented Scottish female artist whose works are in numerous international museums.

Signed upper right.

Provenance Exhibited: Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts 1924, no.283, Ill.48
Exhibited the Royal Scottish Academy 1925, No. 374, entitled Exotic.
Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery, Glasgow Girls - Women in Art and Design 1880-1920, 1990-91, Illustrated fig. 315.
Glasgow Girls: Artists and Designers 1890-1930. Illustrated on page 52, Mr John W D Thomson.
Exhibited in Kirkcudbright in July and August 2010.

Click the link below for this painting
https://www.richardtaylorfineart.com/artist/gray/exotic-portrait-of-rita-mcilraith

Joan Eardley - (1921-1963) Birmingham Art Gallery

Winter Sun No. 1 1961-2

Joan Eardley spent her early career in Galsgow but became drawn to the north east coast of Scotland, especially the fishing village of Catterline. She painted it again and again, worling outdoors in all weathers. This picture shows cottages with washing hanging out to dry. Eardley bought a cottage on the cliff edge with no water or electricty as a place to love and paint. When she died, aged only 42, her ashes were scattered on the beach at Catterline. 


Although Eardley did a large number of portraits, especially of children in Glasgow, I much prefer her landscapes. However, Pauline Glass has been compared to Eardley and the portrait 
we have below is a favourite. 














Pauline Glass (1908-1992)  Richard Taylor Fine Art

Portrait of a Lady in Yellow

This is a  superb portrait oil painting on panel by British artist Pauline Glass. She was a Birmingham born artist who studied at the world famous Juliens Art Academy, Brussels, Belgium and at at the Birmingham College of Art. She was a member of the RBS and exhibited throughout her life including at the Society of Women Artists, The Royal Academy and at the prestigious New England Art Club. She lived and worked in the Birmingham area all her life.

This stunning oil is a bold, adventurous and confident portrait of a woman by a very talented British listed female artist. Comparisons with Joan Eardley and Anne Redpath are not far away and this is an expressive delight. Painted circa 1955 and in fine gallery condition, it has been an exhibited work and retains the exhibition transit labels verso. Reminds me of the Impressionist paintings of Raoul Dufy.

Provenance. Family estate. 

Click the link below for more details on this painting. 
https://www.richardtaylorfineart.com/artist/pauline-glass/portrait-of-a-lady-in-yellow-3