Lot 348 , Mary Fedden OBE R.A. PPRWA (1915-2012), Portrait of Professor Robert Donington, playing the Viola de Gamba, oil on canvas, 60 x 50cm

§ Mary Fedden OBE R.A. PPRWA (1915-2012)
Portrait of Professor Robert Donington, playing the Viola de Gamba
oil on canvas
signed and dated 1948
60 x 50cm
£10,000-15,000
Robert Donington (1907-1990) was educated at St Paul's School, London, and studied at the University of Oxford. His expert knowledge of early instruments and the interpretation of pre-classical music owed much to a period of study with Arnold Dolmetsch at Haslemere, Surrey. He was appointed OBE in the 1979 Birthday Honours.

In the late 1940's Donington shared a studio with his friend Julian Trevelyan. Here he met Mary Fedden and although already married became enamoured with her. By repute in an effort to cool his pursuit of Mary his wife encouraged him to commission work from her and thus place their relationship on a more professional basis. Mary painted his portrait as well as a view of Robert's holiday home, a converted fishermans' hut at Cadgwith. He also acquired a further work from her; 'The Lion and the Lamb'. As history records regardless of Robert's affections, Mary married Julian.

Condition:
Honest untouched condition, canvas a little saggy and paint very dirty. Raised blobs of paint on the surface, housed in a crude pine frame. Provenance - by family descent.

Sold for £8,000