Studio RT Ltd

Description

We are offering this lovely portrait oil on artists' board by the artist R. Burns, who has signed the painting in the lower right hand corner and dated it 1899. The painting depicts a young woman in profile, with her dark brown hair partially covered by a blue scarf tied at the back of her neck and weraing a white dress. For some reason, she looks French and reminds us of the symbol of France - Marianne.

The only R. Burns that we could find either online or in our reference books, was Robert Burns 1869-1941, who studied in Paris betwen 1890 and 1892. He became Head of Drawing and Painting at Edinburgh College of Art, buthis position was terminated due to his unorthodox teaching methods. He also had a falling out with the Royal Scottish Academy, having been elected an Associate Member in 1902, he resigned in 1920. He was a devotee of the Art Nouveau style and illustrated by hand on vellum, in watercolour, gouache, ink and gold leaf a volume of Scottish balads in the style of the 1890s. These are among the finest Scottish modern book illustrations.

Although there are similarities with this signature to that of Robert Burns, we cannot confirm definitively that he was the artist of this portrait. It is a great shame that there only remains a small portion of a label on the back of the board, which might have given us more information, but the only word remaining is 'THE'.

The portrait has been newly framed in a 3" ornate gilt frame and will be supplied wired and ready to hang.

Image size: 12 7/8" x 10" - 32.7cm x 25.4cm

Frame size: 18 3/4" x 16" - 47.6cm x 40.6cm

Medium: Oils on artists' board

Condition: Very good. The frame is new.