Walter Richard Sickert A.R.A.

(British, 1860-1942)

Portrait of a Lady, Mrs David Margesson 181.6 x 120.8 cm. (71 1/2 x 47 1/2 in.)

Footnotes

Provenance
Commissioned by Mrs David Margesson
Thence by family descent to the present owner
Private Collection, U.S.A.

Exhibited
London, Leicester Galleries, Summer Exhibition, 1932 (as Portrait of Mrs Margesson)

Literature
'New Portrait by Sickert', The Times, 1932 (ill.b&w)

On the occasion of the present work's unveiling the 1932 Times review by T.W. Earp remarked; 'At the Leicester Gallery one is attracted at once by a new full-length portrait by Sickert, the latest of his series of full-length portraits, and one of his most satisfying... Mrs Margesson, like her predecessors, has evidently found her way on to Sickert's canvas through the intermediary of the camera. Behind the portrait one can sense a remarkably happy snapshot. Such a method would obviously be a dangerous one in the hands of an artist who had not half a century of experience in craftsmanship and observation to back him up. Sometimes Sickert is lazy with both the hand that holds the brush and the eye that looks out on to the world, but here there is no laziness. True, there is an inevitable contradiction between the calm, impersonal composition provided by the camera and the exciting and very personal colour supplied by the artist. But one easily forgives the contradiction in this case, for the portrait is a human one. It is much more than either a successful interpretation of a snapshot or a happy essay in peach-colour and green. Knowledge – knowledge of the sitter's personality and knowledge of the behaviour of colour values in strong sunshine'. ('New Portrait by Sickert', The Times, 1932).

Commenting on the mixed artist exhibition Earp continues; 'Richard Sickert's just finished Portrait of Mrs. Margesson is the outstanding feature. An upright full-length, winning, gay characterisation with the swiftness of a sketch, yet complete with its air of grace and dignity, it takes the first rank of the later work. Its rival in prominence is Mark Gertler's Merry-Go-Round' (Op.Cit.).

A prime example of Sickert's innovative lens based late portraiture, the present work depicts Mrs Francis David Margesson (née Leggett), wife of David Margesson, 1st Viscount Margesson, the Conservative politician and Chief Whip in the 1930s.