Details

Object type

painting

Title

Woman at a Spinet

Artist/Maker

François Saint Bonvin artist

Culture/School

French

Date

1862

Materials

oil on canvas

Dimensions

framed: 746 mm x 617 mm x 90 mm; framed: 744 mm x 615 mm x 115 mm; unframed: 438 mm x 336 mm

Description

Woman seated on a wooden chair at a spinet, a type of piano. Her back is turned to us, and she has dark, brown hair arranged into a bun. She reads from a sheet of music. She wears a long skirt which is blue-and-white striped, and a white jacket with large sleeves. On the spinet sits a blue-and-white vase of bright, red flowers. The woman’s hat, with a green ribbon, is also nearby.

Bonvin frequently chose themes showing women at work or simply enjoying a quiet moment. In this instance his own life may have influenced his choice of subject.

In November 1860 Bonvin (then 47 years old) married a 21-year old musician, Céline Prunaire. The artist, Courbet, on learning this, wrote to the writer and critic, Champfleury: ‘There is one thing in Paris I would like to see – Bonvin married to a seventeen-year-old (sic) girl! There will be many dramas and scenes, you will see, and Bonvin will have many new pupils!’ On hearing of Courbet’s comment Bonvin ended his long friendship with the artist.

Céline was Bonvin’s second wife, but Céline, tempestuous, independent, and committed to becoming a musician and actress, soon realised her mistake in marrying the artist. They also had financial difficulties and the marriage lasted less than three years – despite Bonvin returning to the Police Department to work as a meat inspector. Their separation - Céline refused to divorce Bonvin - troubled the painter for the rest of his life.

Credit Line/Donor

Gifted by Sir William and Lady Burrell to the City of Glasgow, 1944

Collection

Burrell Collection: Pictures [Oils, Pastels and Watercolours]

ID Number

35.10

Location

In storage