Details

Object type

painting

Title

Woman Painting a Pot

Artist/Maker

John Lavery artist

Culture/School

Glasgow Boys

Place Associated

Scotland, Glasgow, Kelvingrove Park (place made)

Date

1888

Materials

oil on canvas

Dimensions

framed: 592 mm x 665 mm x 60 mm;unframed: 381 mm x 457 mm

Description

During the 1888 International Exhibition in Kelvingrove Park, Lavery became an almost artist-in-residence, recording its daily life and events, possibly commissioned by the dealer Craibe Angus. He produced over fifty paintings, forty of which were shown at Craibe Angus’ gallery in Glasgow in October 1888.

This painting was inspired by one of the demonstration stands at the exhibition. The sitter was Alison (‘Alice’) Mary Elliott Margaret Groom (1863–1952), who worked at the Doulton stall. Lavery recalled: ‘she had been a fascinating, red-haired beauty, attracting crowds by her dexterity in decorating vases.’ She is shown in profile at a table hand-painting the decoration on a large ceramic pot. In the background is a display case containing a variety of glazed vases and pots.

In 1936 Lavery visited Hollywood and was shown around Paramount Studios by Groom, now known as Alison Skipworth, or ‘Skippy’. She secured Lavery an introduction to several stars including Marlene Dietrich. She appears to have stopped working for Doulton in 1891, making her stage debut in A Gaiety Girl in Daly’s Theatre in London in 1894. The following year she was in Broadway Theatre, New York.

Credit Line/Donor

Gifted by Bailie W Graham Greig, 1949

ID Number

2834

Location

Kelvingrove Scottish Art