[Illustrated letter from William Orpen to Mrs St George with a preliminary sketch of 'Gardenia on a Donkey']

Handwritten letter, on Metropolitan School of Art headed paper, in which Orpen writes to Mrs St George concerning an idea for the composition of the oil painting 'Gardenia on a Donkey' (1910). Orpen illustrates the idea in a rough sketch.

(1910)

Ink on paper

Orpen painted four portraits of Gardenia St George between 1907 and 1910, all at Screebe Lodge, Co. Galway. 'Gardenia on a Donkey' was the last of the four.

Private Collection

Prints & Drawings Department

 

Is'nt this exactly what you mean. quite original - hang the picture up which ever way you
like - please don't think Im making a jest of the subject - and haven't I draw the reflection well

Sir William Orpen, Irish artist, born in Dublin, Orpen trained at the Dublin Metropolitan School of Art before moving to London to study at the Slade School of Fine Art. He remained in London and became a highly successful portrait and subject painter. Appointed Official War Artist in 1917, Orpen left for France and was stationed at Amiens and the Somme Battlefields. He returned to London after the war and remained there until his death.

Florence Evelyn St George, eldest child of New York banker George F Baker. In 1906 while married to Howard Bligh St George she began a relationship with Sir William Orpen.