Graphite and watercolour on paper
Tate Collection
Works with images
General Collection
Collection
<a href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/augustus-john-om-1362" aria-label="More by Augustus John OM" data-gtm-name="header_link_artist" data-gtm-destination="page--artist">Augustus John OM</a>
Dorelia
Bequeathed by Lady Henry Cavendish-Bentinck 1940
actions: postures and motions
adults
arm / arms raised
clothing and personal items
dress
dress: fantasy/fancy
fancy dress / role play
headscarf
individuals: female
McNeill, Dorothy, ‘Dorelia’
named individuals
objects
people
portraits
society
standing
woman
paper unique graphite watercolour
Dorelia
support: 457 × 273 mm
Bequeathed by Lady Henry Cavendish-Bentinck 1940
<p><b>N05157</b> DORELIA <i>c.</i> 1908
<br/> 
<br/>Inscr. ‘John.’ b.l.
<br/>Watercolour, 18×10 3/4 (45·5×27).
<br/>Bequeathed by Lady Henry Cavendish-Bentinck 1940.
<br/><i>Coll:</i> Lord Henry Cavendish-Bentinck.
<br/><i>Exh:</i> (?) C.A.S., <i>Loan Exhibition</i>, Manchester, winter 1911 (168), as ‘Colour Drawing of a Woman’; (?) C.A.S., <i>Loan Collection of Modern Paintings</i>, Laing Art Gallery, New-castle, October 1912 (69), as ‘Figure Study’; British Council, <i>Empire Exhibition</i>, Johannesburg, 1936 (502, repr. p.120), as ‘Standing Woman’; Arts Council tour, 1948–9 (76).
<br/><i>Repr:</i> Rothenstein, 1944, p.7.</p>
<p>This <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/d/drawing" title="Glossary definition for 'Drawing'"><span>drawing</span></a>, together with the two other similar examples owned by the Tate Gallery (<a class="acno-pop" data-gtm-destination="page--artwork" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/john-dorelia-n05158" title="View the details of this artwork"><span>N05158</span></a> and <a class="acno-pop" data-gtm-destination="page--artwork" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/john-dorelia-n05159" title="View the details of this artwork"><span>N05159</span></a>), is among many studies which John produced between 1907 and 1909, and may have been lent by Lord Henry Cavendish-Bentinck to one or both of the C.A.S. exhibitions of 1911 and 1912. The subject is usually Dorelia, John's second wife. Sir William Rothenstein wrote: ‘In his second wife, the matchless Dorelia, in her dazzling beauty, now lyrical, now dramatic, John found constant inspiration’ (<i>Men and Memories 1900–1922</i>, 1932, p.166).</p>
<p><b>Published in:</b>
<br/>Mary Chamot, Dennis Farr and Martin Butlin, <i>The Modern British Paintings, Drawings and Sculpture</i>, London 1964, I
<br/></p>

Catalogue entry
2004-10-07T00:00:00
catalogue-entry
CATALOGUE_ENTRY
actions: postures and motions adults arm / arms raised clothing and personal items dress dress: fantasy/fancy fancy dress / role play headscarf individuals: female McNeill, Dorothy, ‘Dorelia’ named individuals objects people portraits society standing woman