Sir George Clausen, R.A., R.W.S., R.I.

Sotheby's, London, 17 December 2009, lot 78;
Private collection

STRUCTURE The picture is unlined. There are localised areas of craquelure to the girl's nose and forehead but the rich impasto here makes the craquelure difficult to discern and it is not distracting. The painting is clean and ready to hang. UNDER ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT There are flecked retouchings to the face and hair of the girl and an area of flecked retouching between the struts of the chair. These retouchings have been well applied. FRAME The picture is contained in a moulded plaster 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."

It is difficult to precisely date this delightful portrait of a rosy-cheeked young girl with big brown eyes and shy half-smile, but it was probably painted in the first decade of the twentieth century. She bears some similarity to the model for An Italian Child of 1907 (Leamington Spa Art Gallery & Museum). The picture is indicative of Clausen's expressive paint application in the twentieth century which gives texture to the girl's clothing whilst conveying the play of golden light on her face. This was also demonstrated in The Bird's Nest of 1902 (sold in these rooms, 15 December 2016, lot 50).