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Ethel Irving as Lady Frederick Berolles in <i>Lady Frederick</i> by William Somerset Maugham

Frederick Howard Michael

1907

paint

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Post-Impressionism Early Modern Portrait

Dominant colour

Ethel Irving as Lady Frederick Berolles in <i>Lady Frederick</i> by William Somerset Maugham is a 1907 paint by Frederick Howard Michael, a Post-Impressionism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: Frederick Howard Michael
When & what style?: 1907 · Post-Impressionism
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

This painting shows a woman in a fancy dress from around 1907. She’s wearing a large, dark purple hat with a feather and a blue-green gown covered in gold embroidery. The background is plain, with a small table holding a candle holder and a few other objects. The artist used soft brushstrokes to blend her face and clothes, giving them a smooth, almost glowing look. The colors are rich but not too bright, keeping the focus on her. If you like this style, check out Michael, Frederick Howard for more portraits.

The story of this work

Overview

The oil portrait depicts Ethel Irving in the role of Lady Frederick Berolles from William Somerset Maugham's play, shown half-length with her body angled left and head turned right. She wears a turquoise and dark blue dress with gold-trimmed bodice, a lace neckline, and a maroon hat adorned with a feather, set against a beige interior featuring a fireplace and gold candlestick. Commissioned by Maugham, the painting was presented to Irving in appreciation of her performance and later donated to the British Theatre Museum Association in 1964.

Read the full account in the museum source.

About the artist

Artist

Frederick Howard Michael

Frederick Howard Michael painted actors on stage in the early 1900s. In "Ethel Irving as Lady Frederick Berolles in Lady Frederick" he captured the moment in soft brushstrokes and muted colors, a slice of theatrical…

See the richer artist page