Bonhams 1793 : Sir Gerald Festus Kelly (British, 1879-1972) Portrait of Jane with a white shawl XXVII 113 x 87 cm. (44 1/2 x 34 1/4 in.)

PROVENANCE:
Sale; The Contents of The Studio of the Late Sir Gerald Kelly; Christie's, London, 8 February 1980, lot 151, where purchased by the father of the present owner

EXHIBITED:
London, Royal Academy, The One Hundredth and Fifty-Ninth Exhibition (Summer Exhibition) 2 May - 6 August 1927, no.332
Hull, Ferens Art Gallery, 1928
Bradford, Bradford City Art Gallery and Museum, Cartwright Hall, 1929
Brussels, Irish Art Exhibition, 1930
Liverpool, Walker Art Gallery, 1933
Poole, Poole & East Dorset Art Society, 1934
Dublin, 1935
Bristol, Bristol City Art Gallery, 1935
Glasgow, Glasgow Art Gallery & Museum, 1940
The Royal Academy Diploma Galleries, Sir Gerald Kelly P.R.A. Retrospective Exhibition 1957, no.262
Glasgow, Glasgow Art Gallery & Museum, 1957-8, no.34
Art Exhibitions Bureau traveling exhibition, 1958-61

Kelly first met Lilian Ryan in 1916 when she was working as an artist's model, and the two were married four years later. Affectionately nicknamed Jane, Kelly went on to depict his wife in over fifty portraits and sketches throughout his career, titling them with roman numerals for the date that the work was first exhibited at the Royal Academy.