Sir William Orpen R.A., R.H.A.

Mrs Howard (Florence Evelyn) St George
Her sale, Sotheby's, London, 26^th July 1939, as part of lot 105, where purchased by Alex Reid and Lefevre, London
Lawrence Rill Schumann Art Foundation, Boston, U.S.A.
Tannenbaum Collection, Canada
Private Collection, Canada
Acquired by the present owner circa 1982

London, Royal Academy, 52^nd Winter Exhibition, Commemorative Exhibition – Works by Late Members, 1933, one of nos. 735, 737, 747, or 750.

There is an old very sensitively repaired tear running vertically from the centre of the top edge, to the right of the sitter's head. The paper has slightly discoloured and there are two small pinholes by the centre of the left edge. There is a minor impression to the sheet running along the upper edge from an old mount otherwise in good overall condition. Held in a plaster gilt frame under glass; unexamined out of frame.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

An important study for Orpen's seminal allegorical masterpiece The Holy Well (1916, Coll. National Gallery of Ireland), the present work was possibly inspired by the figure of Mary in Francesca della Piero's The Nativity. Although annotated in Orpen's Account Book as a drawing 'for Well', the figure seems to have its origins in Orpen's compositional ideas for The Western Wedding (1914, probably destroyed) and as such, it probably dates to  circa 1914 - 1915.

The Orpen Research Project