Irish or English School 20th century "The New-Born," c 193...

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65 - Irish or English School 20th century

Hammer

€250

Fees

Irish or English School 20th century

"The New-Born," c 1935 Oils on canvas
17 1/2" high (44.5cms) x 23 1/2" wide (60cms).

For many years a part of the Yeats family collection, this understated and fine painting depicts a group of people gathered around a mother and child, in a woodland setting. In style, the painting is reminiscent of the Post-Impressionist work of Paul Serusier or Paul Signac, but is characterised by a more delicate colouring. The composition is ambitious, with eight figures gathered around the couple and their child, seated at the base of a tree. The faces of the assembled people are not painted in detail, lending this work a mysterious and other-worldly quality. On the basis of style and provenance, a tentative attribution to Anne Yeats can be suggested. On the reverse of the canvas is an unfinished portrait, which although partly obliterated, seems to relate to a theatre production. In the late 1930’s, Anne Yeats designed costumes and sets at the Abbey Theatre. Another attribution is suggested by an inscription on the stretcher, ‘R Benham, The Chine, Grange Park N 21’ and, in the same hand, the title ‘No. 1 “The New-Born” ’. Like Bedford Park, where the Yeats family lived for several years, Grange Park was an Arts and Crafts estate built in the early years of the twentieth century. R. Benham could refer to the artist Ronald Benham NEAC (1915-1993).