Bonhams 1793 : Sir Alfred James Munnings P.R.A., R.W.S. (British, 1878-1959) Washing a Cut 51 x 61 cm. (20 x 24 in.)

PROVENANCE:
Connell Gallery, Glasgow, where purchased by
Robert Muir Glen (d.1924)
Thence by family descent to the present owner

EXHIBITED:
London, Leicester Galleries, An Exhibition of Pictures of "Horses, Hunting, And Country Life", By A. J. Munnings, March 1913, no.29

Robert Muir Glen worked for The Glengowan (Textile) Printworks which was an established business set up in 1869 and was bought by his father John Glen in 1877. The mill specialised in calico printing and John built houses for the workers which became known as Glengowan village which, in turn was named after the family home of the same name built in the 19th century.

The theme of painting country people involved in their work was made popular by the Newlyn painters at the turn of the century. Bastien-Lepage had documented people at work in France and it was Stanhope Forbes, one of Lepage's followers, who started a painters colony in Cornwall. The idea was to immerse oneself in the environment and culture of those one painted. The Newlyn school produced many such scenes of local fishermen hauling nets, sorting fish for market and other coastal activities.

Sir Alfred Munnings also documented local people at work prior to the present work but it was mainly farming activities such as loading hay wagons, cutting reeds or taking horses to and from horse fairs. From the eighteenth century, depictions of rural chores were of a nature that showed that country activities were healthy as compared to urban life and the labors were ultimately rewarded. Although Munnings did not paint for didactic lessons, he recorded country scenes because they were the backbone of country life.

It has been suggested that the figure standing to the right of the composition may be Munnings himself. He appears in the known example, My wife, horse and self (see Sir Alfred Munnings, The Finish, Museum Press Limited, 1952, ill.b&w opposite p.232). Munnings had a terrific sense of humour so he might have been having a bit of fun by including himself here.

This work will be included in the forthcoming catalogue raisoneé of Sir Alfred Munnings being prepared by Lorian Peralta-Ramos and we are grateful to her for compiling this catalogue entry.