Footnotes

Provenance
With Beaux Arts Gallery, London, 1929, where acquired by
Dame Marie Tempest, thence by descent to her son
Major Norman Loring
His sale; Christie's, London, 28 July 1955, lot 184, where purchased by
Roland, Browse & Delbanco, London
Sir Malcolm Bullock Bt, 1956, thence by descent
Private Collection
Sale; Christie's, London, 1 March 1974, lot 130 (as Vase of Roses with Knife and Knitting), where purchased by
Roland, Browse & Delbanco, London
Sale; Christie's, London, 8 June 1983, lot 40, where acquired by the family of the present owner
Private Collection, U.K.

Exhibited
London, Beaux Arts Gallery, Recent Paintings by William Nicholson, 24 April-31 May, 1929, cat.no.16
London, Roland, Browse & Delbanco, Colour Pure and Atmospheric, November-December 1956, cat.no.28 (as Roses with Knife and Knitting)
London, Roland, Browse & Delbanco, Distinguished British Paintings 1875-1950, 9 May-15 June 1974, cat.no.39 (as Vase of Roses with Knife and Knitting)

Literature
Patricia Reed, William Nicholson: Catalogue Raisonné of the Oil Paintings, Modern Art Press, London, 2011, p.480, cat.no.605 (ill.b&w)

Over the years William Nicholson included a fascinating variety of objects in his still-lifes: silver lustre bowls, green peapods, gloves, scissors, a pinecone, a parsnip, sealing wax and a variety of textiles - but this is the only time he depicted knitting.

The reason for this may be found in the identity of the first owner, the celebrated comedy actress Marie Tempest (1864-1942) who purchased the work from Nicholson's solo exhibition at the Beaux Arts Gallery in 1929. The pair had been friends since at least 1903 when Nicholson completed her highly successful portrait (National Portrait Gallery) and their friendship continued until her death. Returning to England in her sixties after several years touring abroad, Marie Tempest's British career had been revived by two plays written especially for her by the young Noel Coward. In his comedy Hay Fever in 1925 she created the role of Judith Bliss, and two years later she stared in The Marquise for which Nicholson designed her costumes. She is shown wearing one of these costumes on the dust jacket of Hector Bolitho's biography of Marie Tempest (British edition) published in 1936.

When not needed on stage, during performances actors had to endure long periods inactivity: some played patience, others did embroidery while Marie Tempest was known to enjoy knitting. The needles depicted here may be an early example of plastic which had the advantage of being much quieter to use backstage than ivory, wood or steel needles. They seem to be double pointed, the type that were designed for knitting in the round. Two rows of loops of stitches in the foreground suggest a fourth needle is missing – has some disaster occurred? Perhaps the viewer is being asked to imagine how the work would look when unfolded.

The soft, slightly shimmering, warm folds of wool contrast with the hard glazed surface of the painted vase. It is decorated with scythes and corn stalks – hand painted rather than transfer printed. Two full blown pink roses echo the texture of the knitting; they are combined with white harebells and, perhaps, red geraniums. These are flowers from a mid-summer garden while the vase's decoration suggests late summer and the harvest.

The appearance of the knife to the right is unexpected. The undisclosed light source coming from upper right places the handle of the knife in deep shadow beside the vase, while the truncated blade is heading in the direction of the viewer. The inclusion of knives or scissors was a device often used by the artist to tilt the picture plane and extend the picture space.

A direct link between Marie Tempest and the knitting has to be speculative but she did own several works by Nicholson and featured in others such as Souvenir de Marie (1906, Dublin City Art Gallery). Roses and Knitting was among the works by Nicholson that she kept until her death when it passed to her son, Major Norman Loring.

We are grateful to Patricia Reed for compiling this catalogue entry.