PROVENANCE
Acquired directly from the Artist, who was the uncle of the present Private Collector, Nova Scotia, 1956

Randolph Hewton had the good fortune to study under William Brymner at the Art Association of Montreal. Hewton learned the elements of classical painting from Brymner, who was an inspirational teacher. But Brymner also encouraged his students to follow their own path, and he welcomed the exploration of new styles and techniques. Hewton’s figures weave classical elements into works that are clearly modern. Here, the figure is shown in a setting decorated with various draperies: the rumpled white sheet over a mattress, a curtain pulled halfway across a textured wall and large pillows that billow behind her like pink clouds. But the girl is not reclined, passive and odalisque-like amidst the cloth, nor is she posing in a classical Olympian manner. Instead she leans over her legs as if she has just sat up; she turns to cast her eyes up and out towards the viewer, fully engaging us in her space in a specific moment in her life, a direct yet subtle contrast to the otherwise classical setting.

All prices are in Canadian Dollars