Lot 35: f - ALOYSIUS O'KELLY B. 1853 A HEARTY BREAKFAST

signed l.r.: A. O'Kelly

oil on canvas

CATALOGUE NOTE

Highly reminiscent of Walter Frederick Osborne's sensitive treatment of children in works such as Cupboard Love (1886) and Small Girl with a Cat (sold in these rooms, 16 May 2003, lot 41), the present work captures a girl with lively curly red hair enjoying her breakfast. The ship masts framed by the window in the background suggest that the work was possibly executed somewhere along the Brittany coast where O'Kelly had painted similar boats in works such Harbour Scene, Concarneau. Although her identity is unknown, the same sitter was portrayed by the artist in another oil with a similar composition in which she is blowing bubbles (Private Collection).

62.2 by 43.2cm.; 24 1/2 by 17in.