Sir John Lavery

(Belfast, 1856 - Kilmoganny, 1941)

John Lavery (Belfast 1856-Kilmoganny 1941) - Portrait of a woman reading, 1886 cm 46.5 x cm 33 oil paint on canvas. Signed and dated on the lower left . The painting in question has been certified by Dr. Michele Biancale (Sora 1878, Rome 1931), one of the most important and influential art critics and scholars of the last century , holder of the chair of the University of Rome and the painting has been purchased in the 1920s precisely on the advice of the latter from the great-uncle of the current owner and as testyfied by the authentication on the back. Sir John Lavery, born in Belfast in 1856, was one of the influential portrait painters of the last century, highly sought after in the art market to this day, with his portraits of Edwardian society, including commissions from Edward Carson, Winston Churchill (his neighbour) and portraits of the British Royal Family. He was so influential that his wife Hazel's portrait was used as an image on Irish banknotes. In Italy as well he had great success, he participated in important international exhibitions especially after his important personal exhibition at the Venice Biennale in 1910, and many Italian artists were influenced by his style.