Decorative Panel, with three female figures

Born in Yorkshire in 1879, George Dutch Davidson later moved to Dundee with his family. A bad attack of influenza forced him to abandon his chosen career of engineering and he turned to art, enrolling in classes at Dundee High School in 1897. Between 1898 and 1899 Davidson shared a studio with John Duncan, who was an important influence on his art. Davidson was became increasingly interested in the Celtic Revival and provided illustrations for Patrick Geddes' The Evergreen, 1895-7 (see lot 236). In 1898/9 he produced a series of watercolours based on Celtic pattern, the strong colours and abstract shapes looking forward to art deco.

In the context of Scotland in the 1890s he was strikingly original and his early death at the age of 21 removed a talented and original artist from the symbolist movement.

The panel is possibly another interpretation of Fiona MacLeod's The Hollow Land.