A signed oil on board by James Lawrence Isherwood, depicting his mother Lily with children. The painting brings together a family subject and the expressive approach to portraiture associated with this distinctive Wigan artist.
Mother Lily was a recurring and deeply personal presence in Isherwood’s work. This subject offers a connection to the artist’s own life, giving the painting a particular interest within his wider body of portraits, figures, street scenes and landscapes.
Details
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Artist: James Lawrence Isherwood (1917-1989)
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Title: Mother Lily with Children
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Medium: Oil on board
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Signature: Signed
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Artwork: 60 × 44.5 cm (23.6 × 17.5 in)
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Frame: 75 × 59.5 cm (29.5 × 23.4 in)
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Measurements: Height × width
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Presentation: Ornate frame, without glazing
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Condition: Artwork in very good condition. Small chips to frame.
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Provenance: Previously acquired directly from the artist and his sister, Molly Isherwood.
Mother Lily: Subject and Provenance
Lily supported her son’s artistic career and accompanied him to exhibitions. Her repeated appearance in his paintings makes her a recognisable subject for collectors of Isherwood’s work, linking his portraiture closely to his personal history.
The recorded direct acquisition from the artist and his sister refers to a previous owner’s acquisition.
About the Artist
James Lawrence Isherwood was born in Wigan, Lancashire, in 1917. A prolific and individual painter, his subjects ranged from northern streets and everyday life to landscapes, seascapes and portraits.
His expressive approach combines recognisable subjects with a personal response to colour, form and atmosphere. Family members, particularly his mother Lily, featured repeatedly in his work and form an intimate strand of his artistic output.
