Dorothy Hepworth 'Audrey Tugwell 1953' large oil painting on canvas
DESCRIPTION: Three quarter length portrait of Audrey Tugwell reading. We can identify the sitter from other existing works by Hepworth. The painting on canvas shows a young girl with red hair reading a hard back book, whilst seated in an armchair. The girl is Audrey Tugwell, likely a friend of Dorothy Hepworth and Patricia Preece. The work is displayed in a high quality heavy wooden frame. There are a number of labels verso including one for The Royal Academy together with a James Bourlet & Sons, Ltd. label. James Bourlet were an art packers and picture framers used by The Roayal Acedemy among other prestigeous art institutions and galleries. There is another label for the Bloomsbury Workshop, dating the work to 1953 and mentioning that the painting was exhibited at the Society of Women Artists. There is a further gallery label with Patricia Preece listed along with her address at Moor Thatch in Cookham, Berkshire, where she lived with Dorothy Hepworth. There is also a Bonhams ticket attached.
TITLE: Audrey Tugwell 1953
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: UK
SIZE OF CANVAS: 68.5 x 51 cm (26.97 x 20.01 inches)
SIZE OF FRAME: 83.2 x 65.7 cm (32.73 x 25.87 inches)
MEDIUM: Oil on canvas
SIGNED: P Preece (lower left)
DATE: 1953
PROVENANCE: Private London collection ... Bonhams, London, Knightsbridge, UK, December 16th 2020, Lot 141, Modern British & Irish Art ... Patricia Nichol Barnes ... With The Bloomsbury Workshop, London (Exhibited at 'Society of Women Artists') ... The Artist's Studio Sale, Christie's, South Kensington, Pictures and drawings removed from the studio of the late Miss Dorothy Hepworth (Patricia Preece), 2 April 1984 (lot number untraced).
CONDITION: The painting is in excellent condition with unlined canvas. The frame has a few knocks.
