A beautifully detailed British floral still life, painted in 1928 by Ann Maitland, depicting an extravagant arrangement of trailing fuchsias in an ornate, decorative vase.
Rich pink, crimson and cream flowers tumble through blue-green foliage against an unusually dark background. The vase, with its elaborate painted decoration and delicate gilded details, provides a wonderful contrast to the loose, cascading flowers.
The painting retains its handsome decorative frame and, most interestingly, two historic London gallery and framers' labels to the reverse.
The first is from Walker's Galleries, 118 New Bond Street, London, identifying the painting as Fuchsia, by Ann Maitland, dated 1928, reference number 50.
Walker's Galleries was an important London art dealership established by Augustus Joel Walker in the late nineteenth century. The gallery exhibited numerous British artists and hosted the first exhibition of the Seven and Five Society in 1920, an influential group associated with the development of British modern art.
The second label belongs to James Bourlet & Sons, 17 & 18 Nassau Street, London, a distinguished firm of picture framers, gilders and fine-art handlers whose work can be found in major British collections.
Ann Maitland is a comparatively little-documented British artist. Her name appears in the catalogue of the 1947 exhibition Contemporary European Women Painters, where she exhibited a work titled Coming Storm.
An unusually appealing example of interwar flower painting, with a wonderful period frame and an interesting London art-world history.
Appears signed lower left. Titled, attributed and dated on the original Walker's Galleries label verso.
Watercolour on paper, underclass.
Max Width - 46cm/18”
Max Height - 46cm/18”
Good, untouched condition.
Original ornate decorative gilt and dark toned frame, with James Bourlet & Sons label verso.
