Object Description
This watercolour painting is by the English artist Henry Ryland, celebrated in his day and since for his Neoclassical pictures. Ryland was a contemporary of Lawrence Alma-Tadema and Frederic Leighton, among others, and he shares stylistic and compositional traits with both artists. Ryland painted beautiful women in classical settings, often on a promenade like this one. Unlike his contemporaries, however, Ryland worked almost exclusively in watercolour, and this work is a particularly fine example of his style.
The painting depicts three women—two seated and one standing—in a distinctly classical setting: their clothes are classical in style, and elements set on the terrace, such as the amphora, are clearly classically inspired. The colour palette is subdued, indicating the dry heat of the Mediterranean summer.
The painting is held in a fine giltwood frame and is signed lower left ‘Henry Ryland.’
Paper- Height 37cm, width 51cm
Frame- Height 63cm, width 78cm, depth 4.5cm