Oil paint on canvas
Tate Collection
Works with images
General Collection
Collection
<a href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/frank-huddlestone-potter-431" aria-label="More by Frank Huddlestone Potter" data-gtm-name="header_link_artist" data-gtm-destination="page--artist">Frank Huddlestone Potter</a>
Girl Resting at a Piano
Purchased 1932
actions: postures and motions
adults
chair
contemplation
domestic
emotions and human qualities
emotions, concepts and ideas
fine arts and music
furnishings
individuals: female
instrument, piano
interiors
music room
named individuals
objects
people
portraits
sitting
Whelan, Ellen
woman
<p>The girl is the artist's fiancée Ellen Whelan. The setting of a parlour with one or two people playing at the piano was a popular subject for Victorian artists (see The Awakening Conscience displayed nearby). Here, however, Potter shows the girl slumped in her chair looking absentmindedly into the room. The dimness of the interior is accentuated by light reflecting off the brass straps on the piano and the white cuff of her costume. Although the idle mood recalls the work of Whistler, unlike the languid posture of The Little White Girl displayed nearby, this sitter simply looks bored.</p><p><em>Gallery label, August 2004</em></p>
painting oil paint canvas
Girl Resting at a Piano
support: 514 × 714 mm
Purchased 1932
<div class="para1">
<span class="text0">The girl is the artist's fiancée Ellen  Whelan.      The setting of a parlour with  one or two people playing at the piano was a      popular subject for <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/v/victorian" title="Glossary definition for 'Victorian'"><span>Victorian</span></a>  artists (see </span><span class="text1">The      Awakening Conscience</span><span class="text0"> displayed nearby). Here,      however,  Potter shows the girl slumped in her  chair looking      absentmindedly into the room. The dimness of the interior is accentuated by      light reflecting off the brass straps on the piano and the white cuff of      her costume. Although the idle mood recalls the work of Whistler,  unlike      the languid posture of </span><span class="text1">The Little White Girl</span><span class="text0"> displayed nearby, this sitter simply looks bored. </span>
</div>

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2004-08-18T00:00:00
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actions: postures and motions adults chair contemplation domestic emotions and human qualities emotions, concepts and ideas fine arts and music furnishings individuals: female instrument, piano interiors music room named individuals objects people portraits sitting Whelan, Ellen woman