Young Woman In A Japanese-style Interior, F. Hall, 1885

Oil on canvas depicting a young woman standing before a still life composed of Japanese-style objects. A contemplative and mysterious atmosphere, characteristic of the early career of this Victorian painter, who changed his themes and technique in the 1880s, working with light smudges and small, well-defined blocks of color, as well as the calligraphic style of his signature (“One for Sorrow,” 1887, Yale Center for British Art).  In the background, one can see an engraving from the children’s story “Diana Wood’s Wedding,” illustrated by Caldecott and published in the Christmas 1883 issue of the magazine “The Graphic.” There is a version of this painting, dated 1885, of much smaller dimensions (21x31), which was sold in London in 2005. Our painting was acquired in London in the 1970s. Beautiful Louis XV-style frame. 114x84