Lace Makers
Hornel was closely associated with the French - inspired Glasgow school of painters, the 'Glasgow Boys'. He was an extensive traveller and the inspiration for this scene came from a trip to Ceylon. Hornel was interested in creating a harmony of colours and the effect achieved is like that of a tapestry. Child labour was employed to make intricate lace trimmings for the tourist trade to be worn by Edwardian society beauties like Lady Duveen and Muriel Thetis Warde. Little of this is evident in Hornel's romanticised scene.
