Laura Anning Bell

Catalogue entry

N04563 MISS ANNIE HORNIMAN c.1910(?)
 
Inscr. ‘L^a. Anning-Bell.’ b.r. and ‘L. [?] Richard-Troncy, 2 rue Aumont Trionville [?] Paris. Portrait de Miss Horniman, Proprietor of Abbey Theatre Manchester’ on back.
Pastel, 19 3/4×15 3/4 (50×39).
Presented by the artist 1931.
Exh: Salon des Artistes Français, Paris, ? 1910 or 1911; Fine Art Society, March 1919 (85).

The signature on the front of the drawing was presumably added when the artist presented the work to the Tate Gallery, after her second marriage. The inscription on the back is somewhat confused: Annie Horniman (1860–1937), a pioneer of the repertory theatre, owned the Abbey Theatre in Dublin from 1904 to 1910, and in Manchester the Midland Theatre 1907–8 and the Gaiety 1908–21. The artist stated (letter of 23 January 1930) that this work was exhibited at the Paris Salon. She exhibited pastel portraits there, the sitters not being identified, in 1897, 1898, 1902, 1905, 1910 and 1911; the later dates are more likely in view of the inscription. Laura Anning Bell also exhibited portraits of Miss Horniman's brother Emslie and his wife at the Fine Art Society, 1919 (88 and 67).

Published in:
Mary Chamot, Dennis Farr and Martin Butlin, The Modern British Paintings, Drawings and Sculpture, London 1964, I

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