Mrs Edward Compton (née Virginia Frances Bateman)
1935
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1935
paint
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
Dominant colour
Mrs Edward Compton (née Virginia Frances Bateman) is a 1935 paint by Grace Rosher, a Impressionism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.
This painting shows an older woman sitting in a chair, wearing a dark dress with a light shawl draped over her shoulders. She’s holding a small object in her right hand, resting it on a table in front of her. The table has a few items—a book, a teacup, and what looks like a piece of paper or a card. The background is dark, making her face and the table stand out more. The woman’s expression is calm, almost like she’s pausing for a quiet moment. The way the light hits her face and the dark background creates a strong contrast, which makes her look warm and present. If you like this style, check out chiaroscuro to learn about the technique.
An oil portrait from 1935 depicts Mrs Edward Compton seated at a desk in a three-quarter view, her body angled toward the viewer's right against a dark background. She is dressed in a black gown, a lace shawl, and pearls, holding reading glasses in her left hand, while various objects such as a pocket watch, a notebook or diary, and a vase of flowers rest on the desk. The painting was later presented to the British Theatre Museum Association by Anthony Pelissier in June 1970.
Read the full account in the museum source.
Grace Rosher painted portraits in mid-20th-century Britain. Her 1935 oil of Mrs Edward Compton shows a woman in a dark dress against a simple background, letting the subject’s face and hands do the talking. She worked…
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