Lillian Cotton (1892–1962) was an American artist known for her portraits, especially of high-society figures and well-known actors, writers, and artists of her day.
She was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts. Her father was Nathaniel Hugh Cotton, a West Indies shipping merchant born in Barbados, and her mother was Harriet Emma Clapp. Cotton developed an interest in art as a young child, drawing detailed portraits in sketchbooks as early as age ten, and attended the Boston Museum School. Between 1915 and 1917, Cotton studied at the Art Students League of New York under Robert Henri and George Bellows. In 1924, Cotton moved to Paris and studied at the André Lhote Academy. While in Paris, she met Arthur Elia Impey, a British army officer, and married him in 1926. The couple lived between Paris and New York.
I have always wondered who this adorable child is, ever since I bought this painting with a left bid at an auction. It is signed lower left: L.Cotton 1913 when she was still at the Art Students League studying under the famous artists mentioned above.
I just discovered the magnifying glass on my iPhone and decided to use it on the horse embroidered on my baby painting's smocked outfit. You can see the texture of the canvas and the brush strokes of the oil paint.
I adore babies in smocked garments, a trend that is long out of style here where today's babies are dressed as miniature adults. Why rush it? They have their whole lives to wear khaki pants and button-down shirts! England's Royalty dress their children in age-appropriate styles from an age gone by. I love the way Prince William and Duchess Catherine are dressing Prince George, Princess Charlotte and I can't wait to see more of baby Prince Louis' attire. xo
5 comments:
What a lovely painting. I wholeheartedly agree on dressing children as CHILDREN! I was (still am) fortunate and very thankful that my mother smocked many of my daughters special dresses and sewed even more every day play dresses for her.
kim
I'm gonna tell Mom! -- Kim, Both you and your daughter are very fortunate to have such a talented mom and grandmother. I never learned to smock but I love it on children's clothes. It is nice on draperies too. Glad you like my painting.Have a great Labor Day weekend.
xo, Rosemary
What a precious face! Smocking...such good memories. My grandmother taught me how to smock gingham fabric. The spacing of the squares made it simpler for me. Wow, that takes me back about 60 years. Thanks for the walk down memory lane, Rosemary.
Pam -- Hand needlework is a lost art. I am happy to hear you were taught how to smock by your grandmother. Thanks for sharing this memory. xo, Rosemary
My youngest daughter was given several beautifully smocked dresses, I loved putting them on her and was sad when she grew out of them. I was so delighted when my sisters started having daughters so that I could see the dress worn again. I tried smocking but I didn't have the patience to be successful at it.
This painting is absolutely adorable and sweet. You have such a good eye for finding truly special treasures.
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