The Embroidered Cloak
A portrait and still life painter, Cadell was one of the Scottish Colourists group. The Colourists continued a tradition established in Glasgow in the 1880s by William McTaggart (1835-1910) and his contemporaries which brought powerful brushwork and bold colours to Scottish painting at a time when academic practice still favoured realism, dark colours and high finish. The Ferens owns work by three of the Group; Cadell, Fergusson (1874-1961) and Peploe (1871-1935) - the fourth member was Leslie Hunter (1877-1931). The Colourists were influenced by their time spent in Paris where they came into contact with the simplified, colourful work of artists like Matisee (1869-1954). The beauty of the Colourists' work lies in the paint itself, rather than the subject matter, hence the term Colourists. Cadell's paintings are characterised by strong colour, the liberal use of white and rather angular compositions. His brushwork in this portrait has an uncharacteristic smoothness which is suited to the formality of the painting, with its intersecting hoop shapes. The sitter is unknown - she may have been a friend or a model.
