Children on a Beach
George William Russell (Lurgan Armagh 1867 - 1935)
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
circa 1915
Materials
Oil on canvas
Measurements
521 x 400 mm (15 3/4 x 20 /12 in)
Order this imageCollection
Shaw's Corner, Hertfordshire
NT 1275275
Summary
Oil painting on canvas, Children on a Beach by George William Russell, known by his pseudonym “AE” (1867 - 1935). Signed “AE” lower right. A flat sandy beach stretches away into hazy blue, a stream winding down through it. In the foreground a girl in white sits on the bank; another in pink stands in the water leaning on a stick. This painting by AE, and another depicting an Irish landscape (NT 1275277), were purchased by Charlotte Shaw.
Full description
Oil painting on canvas, Children on a Beach by George William Russell, known by his pseudonym “AE” (1867 - 1935). Signed “AE” lower right. This painting by AE, and another depicting an Irish landscape (NT 1275277), were purchased by Charlotte Shaw. AE Russell was an Irish landscape painter, poet and playwright who was much admired by Charlotte Shaw. Charlotte was more concerned with memorializing her Irish roots than Shaw was himself. Thomas Jones recalled that Charlotte was ‘full of nostalgia for Ireland and its open country and wide skies.’ (See Thomas Jones, A Diary with Letters, 1954, p.491). The Irish artefacts at Shaw’s Corner, aside from those relating to Shaw’s friendship with Lady Gregory, are largely a reflection of her taste and interests. The paintings by AE were specifically Charlotte’s possessions, and were purchased by her when she visited him in 1915. Charlotte’s diary summary for 1915 records that she ‘went to Ireland to Kilteragh on 31st March. Called on AE and had talk with him and his wife; bought two of his pictures.’ (British Library Add. MS 56500, f.47). Here she was referring to the two oil paintings now at Shaw’s Corner. (Alice McEwan, 2020)
Provenance
Purchased by Charlotte Shaw in 1915. The Shaw Collection. The house and contents were bequeathed to the National Trust by George Bernard Shaw in 1950, together with Shaw's photographic archive.
Marks and inscriptions
Signed 'AE' at bottom right
Makers and roles
George William Russell (Lurgan Armagh 1867 - 1935), artist