Large Victorian Oil Portrait of Lady Knitting, Possibly Lady Laing c.1893-1900

Large Victorian John Maler Collier Portrait of a Lady Knitting, Possibly Lady Laing, c.1893–1900 Signed British oil portrait in a period Richard Turley frame, with an intriguing possible connection to Collier’s documented portrait of Lady Laing. Highlights: • Attributed to John Maler Collier • Circa 1893–1900 • Oil on canvas • Signed in red • Mature lady knitting • Green upholstered armchair • Period Richard Turley frame • Mellors & Kirk Lot 718, 14 January 2021 • Possibly Lady Laing, identification unconfirmed Introduction: A substantial late Victorian British portrait of a mature lady seated knitting in a richly upholstered green armchair. The dark costume and deep green upholstery provide a striking period palette, while the sitter's face and hands are carefully emphasised. The painting has recently become particularly interesting because John Collier's documented 1893 portrait of Lady Laing likewise depicts its sitter engaged in needlework. Catalogue Details: Artist: Attributed to John Maler Collier (1850–1934) Date: Circa 1893–1900 Medium: Oil on canvas Signature: “John Collier” in red Frame: Period giltwood and composition frame with Richard Turley label Sitter: Unidentified; possibly Lady Laing Catalogue Note: Mellors & Kirk Fine Art & Antiques sold the exact work as Lot 718 on 14 January 2021 and catalogued it as a work by The Hon. John Collier. The auction record establishes the distinctive title, red signature, dimensions and Richard Turley frame. The later identification of Lady Laing is a research development and was not the sitter identification used by Mellors & Kirk. Composition & Technique: The portrait uses a restrained setting to focus attention upon the woman's face and hands. The green chair supplies a strong decorative element while the knitting gives the pose a natural domestic context. Historical Context: Needlework could serve as a visual reference to domestic accomplishment in Victorian portraiture. Its documented use by Collier in his 1893 Lady Laing portrait gives the motif particular relevance to the present painting. The Sitter: The sitter remains unidentified. Lady Laing (1831–1913) is now considered a serious possibility because Collier's documented 1893 portrait of her similarly shows her knitting or undertaking needlework. No evidence currently proves that the same sitter is represented here. About Lady Laing: Lady Laing was the wife of Sir James Laing of Sunderland. Collier painted both Sir James and Lady Laing in 1893. The Artist: John Maler Collier was a prominent British portrait painter of the later nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The Richard Turley Frame: The original-period frame retains Richard Turley's label from 21 Crogsland Road, Kentish Town. Turley is documented as a framemaker working directly with Collier. Signed: Signed “John Collier” in red. Provenance: Mellors & Kirk Fine Art & Antiques, Nottingham, 14 January 2021, Lot 718. Acquired directly from the above sale by the present owner in 2021. Earlier provenance presently unspecified. Why You'll Love It Impressive scale. Strong Victorian decorative character. Unusual knitting subject. Richard Turley frame. Documented Mellors & Kirk provenance. Intriguing possible Lady Laing connection. Certificate of Sale & Dealer Attribution: The artwork will be supplied with a Certificate of Sale & Dealer Attribution issued by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®, recording the artwork’s catalogue details, attribution, provenance as stated, and details of the sale. This document accompanies the work as part of its ongoing ownership and provenance record. Attribution and Research: The historical observations, provenance research, attribution analysis and contextual commentary presented within this catalogue entry represent the professional opinion of Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®. 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