Sir John Lavery RA RHA RSA (1856 -1941)
Portrait of Katherine Fitzgerald, the Artist's Secretary
Oil on canvas board, 61 x 51cmProv. The Honorable Mrs Holt nee Ann Forbes-Sempill the artists...

Sir John Lavery RA RHA RSA (1856 -1941)
Portrait of Katherine Fitzgerald, the Artist's Secretary
Oil on canvas board, 61 x 51cmProv. The Honorable Mrs Holt nee Ann Forbes-Sempill the artists grand-daughter and friend of the sitter .

 

Katherine Fitzgerald was a former school friend of Alice McEnery , the artist's step daughter and became

a companion to Eileen Forbes-Sempill, Laverys daughter in the last years of her life . After Eileen died

in July 1935 Katherine became part of the Lavery household as Laverys last secretary. She became

friendly with Ann Forbes-Sempill the artists grand-daughter and together they accompanied Lavery on

many trips including his trip to Florida in 1938.

 

This portrait is likely to be a study for a full length portrait he did of Katherine which he showed in the

Royal Academy in 1940. This portrait remained in the family until 2003 when it was sold at Sothebys.

 

Our thanks to Kenneth McConkey whose writings on the artist formed the basis of this catalogue entry.

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