Museum & Collections

image-as-object

Presented by Miss Emily White, sister of the sitter, November 1937.

Portrait of Maude Valérie White seated on a wooden-framed armchair playing the piano, on which a large vase of flowers rests. Looking upwards, in profile, perhaps for inspiration. Wearing a dark dress with white trim. By Florence Kate Upton. Oil on canvas, undated (c.1909).

The piano could be described as having a Sheraton revival case, a style revived in particular by Broadwood at the end of the 19th century in an attempt to evoke the elegance of the late English harpsichord case. The oval marquetry panel in the cheek, probably of satin wood, is typical, as is the coupled pair of lighter, tapered, front legs instead of a single fat turned or faceted leg of the old, dark grand piano. There would have been paired legs at the tail, and the corners of the case would not have been rounded - again an evocation of the harpsichord or early piano. The rest of the veneer was probably fairly highly figured mahogany with inlaid lines and other smaller decorative elements of satinwood. The whole keywell would probably be in satinwood with dark lines. The form of the cheek is distinctive and might pin down the model or maker. This piano fits well into the Aesthetic movement atmosphere of the painting as evoked by the wainscot and flowers.

Name	Role
Upton, Florence Kate	artist

c.1909

Exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1909 (No. 196) - see 'Royal Academy Exhibitors 1905-1970), Vol VI Sherr-Zul.

With grateful thanks to Christopher Nobbs for his comments on the piano.

painting

oil

canvas

Type	Length	Width	Height	Diameter	Unit (Length)
image		1460	1470		millimetres
image and frame		1660	1665		millimetres

2003.965

Name	Relationship
White, Maude Valérie FRAM	sitter
Upton, Florence Kate	artist
White, Emily	donor