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Painting sets record for auction house
AN oil painting by renowned Beverley artist Fred Elwell of his sister-in-law bathing her children has sold for a record price.
The painting, entitled Motherhood, went for 25,500 at Dee, Atkinson and Harrison's Driffield saleroom, beating the company's previous best for an Elwell of 10,500.
Spokeswoman Pippa Whiteley said that, as well as the painting's charm, the price reflected the comprehensive knowledge of the painting and its ownership since it was created some time between 1905 and 1908.
"In a painting of this calibre, the provenance is always extremely important and, luckily, this was complete from it first being exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1909 to it entering the saleroom in 2009," she said.
"Often with Elwell, it's the way he paints the light. It was very typical in his studio to have people in a dark room with the light coming onto them, and we have the full provenance of who everybody was in the painting."
It shows his sister-in-law Kate "Kitty" Elwell and her three sons – Jack, in her arms, Kenneth, being bathed by an unknown maid, and Edward, who is standing. Edward recalled the session in an interview in the 1950s.
The painting, which was sold to a Newcastle collector, was acquired by the vendor's parents from a friend, who was also a friend and patron of the artist.
Three other paintings by Elwell all made over their estimates in the auction.
Elwell was born in 1870 and, after becoming a member of the Royal Academy, he studied in Antwerp, London and Paris.
He died at his home, The Bar House in Beverley, in 1958.
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