Price Realized £26,290
signed and indistinctly dated 'Mary Wells/1880' (lower left)
oil on canvas
16¼ x 11½ in. (41.3 x 29.2 cm.)
Mary Wells, née Hayllar, was one of the four artistic daughters of James Hayllar. An example by each is included in this sale: that of Edith, Kate and Jessica. Mary was perhaps the least prolific, and only exhibited at the Royal Academy from 1880 to 1885, mainly still lives and child subjects. After her marriage to Henry Wells in 1887 she seems to have given up painting, and borne several children, each of whom found ready employment as models by their aunts.
Mary was highly accomplished however, and like her sisters, she delighted in recording the domestic life of the Berkshire countryside, as lived at her parents' house, Castle Priory, Wallingford. Tables laid with an enticing looking tea are a leitmotif found in all their work.
We are grateful to Christopher Wood for his help in preparing this entry.
2 comments:
This is adorable... It always amuses me to see paintings of pets on portraits. I have two Papillons and I am pleased to find them often in famous paintings. I have an image of a painting of Alexandra, wife of Edward VII holding a black and white Pap. I love it!
They were a most interesting and talented family. Just realised that the painting on my Children's blog today has a doll in it.
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