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Lot Essay
Of the four Scottish Colourists, Cadell was perhaps the most versatile, painting landscapes, seascapes, still-lifes and portraits with equal facility. A common characteristic of all his works being an elegance and optimism, due largely to his daring use of colour.
Interestingly he painted very few self-portraits. Three are recorded in Tom Hewlett's book Cadell A Scottish Colourist; a watercolour dated 1900, a bravura oil painting of 1914 in classic painterly pose with palette in front of a still life in the studio (Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Edinburgh) and a quietly composed, inward looking oil of 1932, revealing the more mature man, stylishly dressed as always in a spotted cravat. Dating from circa 1904, the present self-portrait shows a young man, reflective and thoughtful, face half hidden in the shadows. Cadell, recently returned from his studies in Paris, was starting to exhibit and sell works, he had a small watercolour exhibited in the Paris Salon in 1899 and 1902 saw his first paintings exhibited at the Royal Scottish Academy. Athough his paintings were barely bringing enough income to live on, this period marks the beginning of the artist's career.
Interestingly he painted very few self-portraits. Three are recorded in Tom Hewlett's book Cadell A Scottish Colourist; a watercolour dated 1900, a bravura oil painting of 1914 in classic painterly pose with palette in front of a still life in the studio (Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Edinburgh) and a quietly composed, inward looking oil of 1932, revealing the more mature man, stylishly dressed as always in a spotted cravat. Dating from circa 1904, the present self-portrait shows a young man, reflective and thoughtful, face half hidden in the shadows. Cadell, recently returned from his studies in Paris, was starting to exhibit and sell works, he had a small watercolour exhibited in the Paris Salon in 1899 and 1902 saw his first paintings exhibited at the Royal Scottish Academy. Athough his paintings were barely bringing enough income to live on, this period marks the beginning of the artist's career.