The Little Equestrienne

细节

Sir John Lavery, R.A., R.S.A., R.H.A. (1856-1941)
The Little Equestrienne
signed 'J Lavery' (lower right), signed again, inscribed and dated 'THE LITTLE EQUESTRIENNE/BY/JOHN LAVERY/5.CROMWELL PL:/LONDON/1909' (on the reverse)
oil on canvas
30 x 25 in. (76.2 x 63.5 cm.)

来源

Purchased by the present owner in Toronto, 1970s.

出版

W. Shaw-Sparrow, John Lavery and his Work, London, 1912, p. 124, illustrated.
A. Stodart Walker, 'The Art of John Lavery, R.S.A., A.R.A. etc', The Studio, vol. lxii, 1914, p. 14.
K. McConkey, Sir John Lavery, 1993, p. 99, 216 under note 78, as 'present whereabouts unknown'.
K. McConkey, John Lavery, A Painter and his World, Edinburgh, 2010, pp. 101, 229 under note 117.

展览

possibly Pittsburgh, Carnegie Institute, 1912.

注意事项

VAT rate of 5% is payable on hammer price and at 20% on the buyer's premium.

荣誉呈献

André Zlattinger

azlattinger@christies.com +44 (0)20 7389 2074

拍品专文

In her late teens Eileen Lavery accompanied her father on his annual winter sojourns in Tangier. Here she perfected her riding skills under the friendly protection of Sir Reginald Lister, head of the British Legation, while her father painted a series of portraits of her in busvines. The largest of these was a full-length entitled Diana, (private collection), its title symbolizing the modern hunter-goddess. This was subsequently reduced to a three-quarter length and repainted around 1911. At the same time half length portraits were painted, two of which became known as The Little Equestrienne - the present canvas, and a small version 14 x 10 inches (painted circa 1907-8) (private collection). In both instances Eileen wears a tope, held in place by a tight chin-strap, with a riding crop in her right hand, and since both were exhibited, they have sometimes been confused.

The present larger work shows a slightly older rider with a more imperious demeanour, confirming its later date. Lavery went on to produce the impressive Amazon (Ulster Museum, Belfast) a life-size picture of Eileen mounted on a white Arab charger, her whip discarded in favour of a lance. However it was here in the present work that the imperial conquering spirit emerges for the first time.

K.M.