Dapper Folk and Hazel Lavery

When I came across this self portrait by 

Sir William Orpen

Painted in 1910

It immediately struck me that this dapper fellow should in fact be 

gracing the screen of  

The Sartorialist 

His outfit is so up to date 

In fact it is not simply the outfit but also the stance...very modern.

The Andalusian, painted by 

James Whistler in 1888

could be on her way to 

The costume Institute Ball

This painting by Sir John Lavery 

could be a society portrait 

in the current issue of Vogue, were it a photo instead of an Oil Painting.

Lavery was an Irish Artist and I have long been captivated by him 

but more enthralling than Sir John, was his wife

Lady Hazel Lavery

One of the most beautiful women of her time she was reported to have been

loved by many important men 

including some lascivious rumours involving Michael Collins.

I first came across her, like many others as the mystical 

and serene lady who graced the Irish currency until the 1970's

and was then relegated to the watermark of our currency 

until we converted to Euro's 

a few years ago.

This is probably the most famous portrait John Lavery painted 

of his wife, though he did reputedly paint over 400.

I am intrigued to learn more about this lady 

That is why I have just ordered this book

from Amazon

and as I like to immerse myself in a world once I first dip my toe 

I think as soon as I am finished I shall have to order this too

William Orpen a wish..

If I had a spare £361,250 I would have purchased this painting by Irish artist William Orpen that recently sold in Christies, London. I have loved his paintings since I was a schoolgirl. The sale was actually a few days before my birthday so I thought maybe my darling other half was going to surprise me........alas, it was not so. The subject is Irish Tenor Count John McCormack. I love the relaxed posture, the creases in his suit, his hand tucked in to his belt loop. It feels like a snapshot but it must have taken many sittings and hours upon hours of labour to achieve. The sheet of music in his hand is obviously a nod to his profession but it is so subtle I didn't even notice it at first. The palette is so subdued and calming, I would like to take it and design a room around it, maybe a bathroom. Walls the colour of his linen suit with glossy white paintwork. Tiles of a blue grey lustre with a deep black trim....... it would be a bathroom in a Georgian home of course
.....maybe this one and we could hang the painting on the entrance wall.