This study of a girl in profile against brilliant, coruscating light reflected off the river, with Thames barges moored beyond, was painted 1904-5. It probably pre-dates a larger picture in which the same girl is in a similar pose with another woman and two children, also by the river (sold by Sotheby’s 7 November 1990 as The Boat Trip, which may be Connard’s Old Swan Pier, shown at the NEAC in 1907). Connard began to exhibit river subjects at the New English Art Club from 1901, and in 1902 he got a paid job teaching at the Lambeth School of Art, and so was able to move to a studio in Cheyne Walk in Chelsea, by the Thames. In 1904 he had a one-man show at William Marchant’s Goupil Gallery. In 1905, Connard shared a studio with two friends from his Académie Julien days in Paris, Oliver Onions and William Shackleton, and from 1907 he began to show regularly alongside Wilson Steer, the ‘British Impressionist’ who had been a founder member of the New English Art Club, and other progressive Chelsea artists. Connard’s highly successful 1908 one-man show at Goupil was reviewed by the Evening Standard: ‘He paints steadily and skilfully one important vision of the River – at least it looks like a vision of our London river, or its lower reaches – and he is the author of certain sketches of similar themes: buildings or bridges rapidly indicated, that flank or cross silver grey water. These are, to say the least, engaging fragments; and it is not to say the least to add that it is to the artist that they appeal.’

We are grateful to Stephen Whittle of The Atkinson, Southport, curator of the exhibition Eternal Summer: Paintings by Philip Connard (on until 30 November 2024).