Sybil Maudeportrait Of A Young Cornish Girl British Art 1905 Oil Painting Female Artistcirca 1905
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Item details
Height
83.82 cm
Width
73.66 cm
Depth
5.08 cm
Wear conditions
Good
Wear conditions
Excellent
Shows little to no signs of wear and tear.
Good
May show slight traces of use in keeping with age. Most vintage and antique items fit into this condition.
Average
Likely to show signs of some light scratching and ageing but still remains in a fair condition.
Apparent Wear and Tear
Visible signs of previous use including scratches, chips or stains.
Please refer to condition report, images or make a seller enquiry for additional information.
Description
This lovely British Edwardian Impressionist portrait oil painting is by female artist Sybil Maude. Painted circa 1905 the painting is a charming seated portrait of a young Cornish girl holding a saffron bun, a traditional Cornish pastry. The sitter is Olive Mary Stone who lived on Cranken Farm New Mill, near Penzance, Cornwall with her parents William and Jane and siblings Emma, John and George. Information from the sitter's family tells us that Olive was about 5 or 6 when the picture was painted and the artist about 23. it is not known if Sybil was on holiday in Cornwall or attending painting classes with one of the Newlyn School artists such as Stanhope Forbes, who her style is reminiscent of, when she was asked to paint Olive. Apparently Olive was originally holding an apple but ate that so was given a saffron bun instead. Sybil stayed in touch with Olive, sending her letters and presents from around the world. It is a lovely sympathetic Impressionist oil painting with wonderful light and shadows on Olive's dress, her face beautifully illuminated. A very sweet painting by a talented female artist.
It is thought that saffron was introduced to England in the fourteenth century. The Cornish traded their tin for Spanish saffron. It is then thought to have been grown in England around Bude. Hence the beautiful Cornish saffron bread and buns.
Provenance. Family Descent. A letter re the painting and sitter from Olive's great nephew dated 1994. David Lays auction 1994
Condition. Oil on canvas. Unframed size is 24 inches by 20 inches and in good condition.
Frame. Housed in a fine gilded Watts late Victorian period frame. Framed size is 33 inches by 29 inches and in good condition.
Sybil Margaret Maude (1878-1963) was a portrait and landscape artist who exhibited from 1909-25. She has addresses in Eastbourne in 1909 and Finchampstead, Berks in 1924. She was born in Brompton South Kensington, London, the daughter of Ashley Henry Maude and Emma Constance Henry who came from a wealthy background. Her siblings were Edith, Dorothea and Frances. However her mother died at the age of 39, necessitating that the four girls live with her maternal grandfather in Hampshire. He had many servants and was deputy administrator for the Isle of Wight, so Sybil lived the life of a cultured young woman which included painting. She never married and died a wealthy woman on 26 August 1963 aged 85 in a nursing home in Bournmouth.
Exhibited: Royal Hibernian Academy 2, Society of Women Artists 4, Walker's Gallery, London 80.
Condition report:
Good
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Cancellations and Returns
Last updated: 24th March 2025
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