Oil on canvas: 120.8 x 141.2 cm. Kelsey (1909-1995) was a professional model in the 1920s and 1930s. Renowned for her gracefulness she sat to about 20 London artists. She became so popular that she was often booked months in advance. This work was originally titled 'Woman Reclining', but changed by the artist for a Tate Gallery retrospective in 1982. During this retrospective Kelsey was the only still-living sitter who had not yet been traced. She had been living in New Zealand. Upon seeing reviews of the exhibition, she contacted the Gallery and visited the exhibition. According to Kelsey the artist required a perfect morning light. The painting required at least twelve and possibly as many as twenty-four sittings. The Beeton portrait: here.
Visit > Tate Modern, London.
More > Meredith Frampton at Wikipedia.
More > Meredith Frampton at Art UK.
More > Marguerite Kelsey obituary by Richard Ormond.
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