Sir James Jebusa Shannon, R.A., R.B.A., R.H.A.

The artist’s estate and thence to his daughter Kitty Keigwin and her husband Walter Skarrat Keigwin and thence by descent to their daughter Julia

STRUCTURE Original canvas. There is a small chip of paint loss near the centre of the lower edge and there are areas of craquelure across the canvas, which could probably be greatly reduced with professional restoration. ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT UV light reveals retouching to and around her midriff, the left side of her face, to the mirror at the right of her face, above her hat, to her arms and a few small retouchings to her skirt and areas in the foreground. FRAME Held in a gilt wood 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."

The Silk Pink Dress worn by this beautiful young woman suggests that the picture was painted in the mid 1880s and the style of the painting is close to that of John Lavery and John Singer Sargent at this time. This 'square-brush technique' and interest in elegant fashion, reflect influences from Parisian art and the desire to capture the epoch of the late fin-de-siecle. The direct gaze of the woman and her confident pose is powerful and engaging and she is clearly one of the New Women of this period.