Helen Margaret MacKenzie (1888-1966)

Self Portrait with Cat

This stunning Scottish 1920's self portrait oil painting is by noted Scottish female artist Helen Mackenzie. Painted circa 1929 the composition is the head and shoulders of the artist looking at colourful flowers in a vase with a beautiful white cat stretched out on the back of the sofa behind her. She is wearing a white off the shoulder dress and clasping a pendant to her chest. The brushwork and heavy impasto are superb and this shows all the attributes of the Scottish School and Colourist tradition.
 
Signed lower right.

Provenance. Masons Yard Gallery 1971. 

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Frederick George Swaish (1879-1931)

The Close of Day

A superb pastoral oil painting by British listed artist Frederick George Swaish and painted in 1923. He was a noted British artist of the inter war period and a regular exhibitor at the major British art institutions. This large Art Deco Post-Impressionist painting depicts an end of day pastoral scene with the hay being brought in on a horse drawn cart. Various labourers and a mother and child walk along side the cart. Beyond is a landscape beneath a full moon. The brushwork and colouring are lovely. An excellent example of Swaish's work and this superb pastoral oil painting is finished off in a lovely Bourlet panelled exhibition ebonised and silver frame. 

Signed right Swaish 1923.

Provenance. Devon collection
                     Royal Academy labels verso

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Frederick William Leist (1873-1945)

Lost in Thought

This stunning romantic Art Deco portrait oil painting is by noted Australian/British artist Frederick Leist. He was born in Sydney, his parents both Londoners, and moved to England with his wife Ada in 1910 and exhibited prolifically, including at the Royal Academy, on his return. Like many artists, he became a war artist during the first world war and his dramatic battle scenes contrast markedly with his more delicate portraits. Painted circa 1925, this composition is of a beautiful young woman kneeling on the ground, a striped blanket covers her head and auburn curls and is around her shoulders and spread out on the ground around her. In one hand and scattered around her are beautiful pink flowers the colour of her lips. One shoulder and her face are bathed in light as she gazes down to her left, lost in thought. The brushwork and use of light are superb. Almost Orientalist by design, it is a super roaring twenties painting, full of vitality and impressionistic colour and influences and an excellent example of Leist's work. 

Signed lower right. 

Provenance Collection IMI PLC.

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https://www.richardtaylorfineart.com/artist/frederick-william-leist/lost-in-thought

Harold Harvey (1874-1941)

Cornish Family in an Interior.

This superb British figurative interior oil painting is by noted Newlyn school artist Harold Harvey. Painted circa 1912 the composition is a Cornish family, bathed in golden light, seated around a table having a simple meal. The mother, dressed in a yellow shawl and standing next to her husband is passing a plate to her son. The two younger children, sat in the bay window, are drinking their tea. The wall paper is also yellow with flowers and the children's hair gleams like gold. There are some lovely little details such as a gold fish in a bowl on a nearby dresser and bellows hanging by the fire surround. The British Impressionist brushwork and impasto are superb. This is a really warm and intimate portrayal of a family and a lovely example of Harvey's earlier work with good provenance. 

Signed lower left. 

Provenance Harry Miller, Johannesburg, South Africa; By descent to his daughter, Pera Lee Helena Miller Chiofolo; By gift to her son Richard Chiofolo; Bequest to Douglas Yoder; Private collection, Florida, 2006

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https://www.richardtaylorfineart.com/artist/harold-harvey/cornish-family-in-an-interior

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Maud Marion Wear (1873-1955)

Portrait of a Girl Holding Wool

This beautiful British Edwardian portrait oil painting is by noted and much exhibited female artist Maud Marion Wear. Wear trained at the Royal Academy Schools in London for five years and then went on to combine teaching art and exhibiting for over forty years including 45 works at the Royal Academy. Her painting were mainly portraits and figure studies. This lovey painting, painted circa 1905 is a three quarter length portrait of a young woman in front of a leaded window. She is wearing a dark dress with lace collar and lace cap. In her hands she holds a ball of tangerine wool. These colours are beautifully echoed by the autumnal trees behind her through the window. She is gazing down to her right. This painting is absolutely exquisite in its colouring with the vivid orange and greens behind her and her rosy cheeks and red lips. The sympathetic soft focus detail in her face is also superb. This is a fantastic example of Wear's work as a female artist and is just a pleasure to behold.  

Indistinctly signed lower right. 

Signed 'Maud M Wear' on stretcher verso.
 
Provenance. Essex estate. 

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