About this lot

Description

Gertrude Martineau (British, 1840-1924) "The Death of Abel" oil on canvas, in a Pre-Raphaelite frame, and sold with letters from Gertrude Martineau from 1868 60 x 49cm (23 x 19in)
Exhibited: London, Royal Academy, May 1868 (letters from Gertrude Martineau refer) Other Notes: Gertrude Martineau was a watercolourist and a woodcarver. Along with her younger sister, Edith (1842-1909), they were members of a small group of female artists associated with the Pre-Raphaelites. Although Gertrude spent much of her time in London, she often visited the family's summer home in Rothiemurchus, near Aviemore, Scotland. She spent much of her time there, painting, teaching art, and woodcarving. Gertrude Martineau's inspiration for the present painting is the poem: The Dream of Eugene Aram by Thomas Hood 'My gentle lad, what is't you read- Romance or fairy fable? Or is it some historic page, Of kings and crowns unstable?' The young boy gave an upward glance,- 'It is "The Death of Abel." '
Cleaned and lined at some stage - two small holes in the sitter's arm. Oil on canvas which is unlined but has a loose canvas backing on the reverse of the stretcher. The canvas has reasonable tension with slight undulations in the corners. There are two punctures in the sitter's wrist with associated paint loss. The paint layer is in a good, stable condition. The varnish is yellowed but even and glossy. The frame is in a good condition with minor losses to the gilding.

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