This splendid early 20th-century oil painting by British artist Emily Gladys Court ROI (1876-1957) depicts a bright Summer’s day in Hyde Park, London.
An abundance of impressionistic marks convey movement, life, and high society. Parisian joie de vivre brought to London’s Hyde Park by a female artist who lived within walking distance. Such a delightful piece.
It’s a view of ‘Rotten Row’, which was a desirable and highly fashionable place to promenade, particularly in the evening. Ladies would adorn themselves in the latest haute couture and carry parasols as they discussed events in close company. During the warmer months, thousands would visit, a veritable smorgasbord of both old and new money. As such, various entertainers and street sellers would offer their wares, keen for a coin from a passerby.
Court was 30 when she produced this piece and lived in Westminster. She was surely a regular visitor and probably dressed appropriately when painting from life. Her handling here is superior, gentle daubs meet bolder lines, the trees a hazy dreamlike canopy.
She studied at the prestigious Slade School, winning numerous awards.
Signed/dated lower right and framed.
Medium: Oil on canvas
Overall size: 29½” x 25½” / 75cm x 65cm
Year of creation: 1910
Provenance: Private collection, England.
Condition: Artwork presents well. Fine craquelure but the paint is stable. Canvas relined. Frame with some light wear.
Artist’s auction maximum: £3,200.
Emily G Court (1876-1957) was an accomplished British painter of landscapes, still lifes and coastal scenes. Orphaned as a child, she studied initially at the Clergy Orphan School before enrolling at the Royal Female School of Art in South Kensington followed by the prestigious Slade School. She won numerous awards, particularly for flower painting, including the Carnegie Institute Flower Prize in Washington DC.
She exhibited regularly at the Royal Institute of Oil Painters, where she became a member, and also across the provinces. Examples of her work are held at the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust and Kirklees Museums and Galleries.
Learn more about Emily Gladys Court in our directory.
We care profoundly about our role as custodians and every piece in the collection has been assessed by our conservator. When required, we undertake professional restoration carefully using reversible techniques and adopt a light touch to retain the aged charm of each work. We also often restore frames rather than replace them as many are original and selected by the artists themselves.
