Object Description
Oil painting of a Whitsuntide fair after Munnings
English, early 20th Century
Frame: Height 78cm, width 96cm, depth 5.5cm
Canvas: Height 50cm, width 70cm, depth 2cm
This fine oil painting is after the original by Sir Alfred Munnings, which is entitled ‘A Gala Day – Whitsuntide’ and was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1903. The painting depicts an early summer fair: tents line the background and people litter the middle- and foregrounds. In the immediate foreground, an apple seller vends his fruit, trying to interest three onlookers, while two children—apples in hand—gaze into the artist’s (and our) eyes. The painterly manner of the present work follows Munnings’ original: the style is fluid and accomplished, indicating the quality of the present copy. The painting is signed lower right ‘Reeves’ and is contained within a fine carved and gilt wooden frame.