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Sketch for the oil painting 'Private and Confidential'

Joseph Clark

1875

watercolor

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Impressionism Realism Late 19th Century

Dominant colour

Sketch for the oil painting 'Private and Confidential' is a 1875 watercolor by Joseph Clark, a Impressionism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: Joseph Clark
When & what style?: 1875 · Impressionism
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

Joseph Clark painted this watercolour in 1875 as a study for his oil painting. It shows young girls sharing secrets in a schoolroom. He often used family members as models. Before finishing oils, Clark made careful drawings and expressive watercolours. This sketch helped him plan "Private and Confidential," shown at the Royal Academy. Check out more childhood scenes by Clark, Joseph.

The story of this work

Overview

A preparatory sketch depicts two young girls in a schoolroom holding slates as they share a quiet moment of conversation. The artist later developed this composition into an oil painting exhibited in 1875. On the reverse side of the sheet, a watercolour study shows an elderly seated woman, related to another work shown the following year.

Read the full account in the museum source.

About the artist

Artist

Joseph Clark

Joseph Clark painted small, delicate watercolors in the 1800s. His works include *A Young Girl Seated* (maybe his daughter “Poppie” at age 100 in 1926) and a sketch for *Private and Confidential*, both in soft washes.…

See the richer artist page