Arthur Melville

Thomas Murray & Son, Dundee;
Private Collection

The sheet is sound. There are some very minor scuff marks to the sheet in the upper and lower right sections and towards the upper edge, possibly intrinsic to the heavily woven paper. There is a further minor indentation just to the left of the sitter's neck, on close inspection. There is a pecil line running horizontally across the sheet above the sitter's head which again is likely to be intrinsic to the work. Otherwise in good condition. Held in a decorative gold painted frame in fair condition. Under glass and unexamined out of frame.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Lawn tennis was invented in 1874 by Major Walter Wingfield who took out a patent for a portable court which could be erected on any flat piece of grassed area. The All England Croquet Club at Wimbledon was quick to adopt the sport and laid down several permanent courts. Within a short time the popularity of the sport had spread throughout the British Empire and begun to take root in North America, with courts at Staten Island Cricket and Baseball Club. During the 1880s lawn tennis became more popular than many outdoor pursuits which were promoted for their health-giving attributes. It was seen as particularly beneficial recreation for young people and also offered opportunities for them to interact unsupervised.

Summer at Wimbledon is a charming depiction of an elegant lady in late Victorian dress enjoying the quintessential society gathering of the summer season. Its similarity to James Guthrie's The Tennis Racket, executed in pastel in 1890, is remarkable and the two pictures are likely to be very close in date. Tennis was a popular subject for many of the Glasgow Boys and Melville himself chose this as a subject on a number of occasions, most notably in his work entitled The Lawn Tennis Party at Marcus. Shortly before Melville began painting The Lawn Tennis Party at Marcus, John Lavery was also at work upon his famous The Tennis Party (Aberdeen Art Gallery) which shares obvious similarities. Kenneth McKonkey has confirmed that Melville, along with Guthrie and Walton, had been present at Cartbank House near Paisley where Lavery made studies for The Tennis Party and can therefore be seen as a likely source of inspiration. Melville's paintings of the 1880s and 90s contain the forceful spontaneity of the early work of the Glasgow Boys when new ideas were fresh and heart-felt. Melville rarely worked in pastel however when he did his work was imbued with a striking softness and energy as seen in the present work and in After the Play, one of his finest and most ambitious works.