Studio RT Ltd

Description

We are offering for sale this beautiful portrait oil on canvas of a young woman, which is unsigned. We were informed by the auction house that the vendor had told them that this painting and another of Christ, which we do not own, had been painted by his ancestor A. J. Lee, who was one of the architects who worked on the Liberty building in Regent Street. This mock Tudor building, designed by Edwin Hall, was built in 1924. However, as we have found in the past, family stories are not always correct and, after some research, we can find no mention of an A. J. Lee in connection with the Liberty building. We are, therefore, revising our listing.

The sitter is shown waist length, wearing a cream dress and hood and a blue cloak. She has her hands clasped in prayer. It could be a portrayal of Mary Magdelene, the Madonna, or simply a young woman of the period. The painting has been beautifully executed and has a haunting quality.

We would date this painting to the early 20th Century, due to the Reeves stamp on the reverse of the canvas. The company had a retail establishment at 161 High Street Kensington from 1898-1927.

The canvas has been newly framed in a 3 1/2" swept gilt frame to suit. It is ready to hang.

Image size: 29 3/8" x 23 3/8" - 74.6cm x 59.3cm

Frame size: 36 3/4" x 30 1/2" - 93.3cm x 77.5cm

Medium: Oils on canvas

Condition: Very good. The canvas is clean and taut. There is some craquelure on the hair and in the bottom third of the canvas. The frame is new.