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59.
SIR JOHN LAVERY RA RHA (1856-1941)
Mother and Child
Oil on canvas board, 25 x 35cm (10 x 14”)
Signed
Provenance: Given to the current owner as a wedding present in 1941
In the early years of the new century John Lavery was introduced to sixteen year old Mary Auras in Berlin’s
Unter den Linden. She acted as a companion for his daughter, Eileen and became a regular member of his en-
tourage for several years, having her portrait painted many times. Prof. Kenneth McConkey notes that Lavery
described her as “an inspiration”.
Prof McConkey writes : ‘Lavery painted many sketches and smaller portraits of Mary at least three of which
were profiles. The first, painted in 1902, may relate directly to
Printemps
in the tilt of Mary’s head, whilst the
second is a smaller, simplified version of the third, the resplendent
Miss Auras: The Red Book
, the most ambi-
tious of the group. Full-face studies include the equally sensitive
Mary in Black
.
Two other projects initiated with Mary are less well known.
The Mother
, although repainted from different
models, in its original version showed Mary in bedclothes gazing down at a newborn babe.’
McConkey suggests that there are a number of studies for this painting which is in the Ulster Museum, two of
which show the mother in profile caressing her baby. The present work would appear to be another study for
the UM painting. Having been in the present owner’s family since the early 1940s it has not been previously
recorded.
€5,000 - 8,000