George Leslie Hunter 1877-1931

Possibly Edinburgh, Royal Scottish Academy, 1916, no. 103 as Peonies lent by John A. Ferguson of Kilmeny, Glasgow

STRUCTURE: This picture is unlined and in good overall condition with rich colouring and impasto throughout. There is scattered craquelure throughout but the paint surface appears to be stable. The picture would benefit from a light clean. UNDER ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT: There appea to be old retouchings to the background of the picture. FRAME: Contained in a simple modern frame.
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It is difficult to know whether it was this painting or another picture of the same subject (Christie's, 26 October 2000, lot 200) that was exhibited at the Royal Scottish Academy in 1916 from the collection of Mr Ferguson of Glasgow. Both pictures date from the same early period in Hunter's career when he was interested in the realistic depiction of flowers and fruit set against dark backgrounds. The paintings were influenced by the still lifes of the seventeenth century Dutch artist Willem Kalf and Jean-Siméon Chardin which Hunter admired in the Glasgow art galleries. Another great influence upon Hunter at this time was Edouard Manet who particularly favoured peonies in his still life compositions.