The Seated Woman
Gwen John, like her brother Augustus (1878-1961), was a star pupil at the Slade School of Art, before studying briefly under Whistler (1834-1903) at his Academy Carmen in Paris. She settled there in 1898, embarking upon a traumatic love affair with the sculptor Rodin (1840-1917), for whom she modelled. Gwen was the very opposite, both artistically and in personality of her exuberant brother, Augustus. As with The Seated Woman most of her work consists of single figures, placed in simple, austere poses of quiet self absorption. Although her work was little appreciated during her lifetime, her reputation now stands higher than that of her brother. Augustus described her as, 'The greatest woman artist of her age, or, as I think, of any other.' There are 15 surviving versions of this painting, most known as The Convalescent. The Ferens' is regarded as one of the best for its lighter and more sharply contrasted colouring. It is typical of the highly original technical approach which Gwen John developed. She touched each part of the canvas only once with the brush, depositing a thick layer of paint which dried with a peculiar pitted surface. The subtle tones of delicate greys and pinks are also characteristic of her work.
