About this artwork
A Bloomsbury Family depicts the artist William Nicholson and his family. Nicholson's wife, the painter Mabel Pryde, is standing by the door. Sitting at the table from left to right are the Nicholson children: Nancy, who became a painter and fabric designer; Tony, who died during the war in 1918; and Ben, who would become Britain's foremost abstract artist. Standing in the foreground is Christopher or 'Kit', wearing a type of frock often worn by young boys at this date. He became an architect. Orpen himself is reflected in the convex mirror.
Updated before 2020
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artist:Sir William Orpen (1878 - 1931) Irish
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title:A Bloomsbury Family
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date created:1907
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materials:Oil on canvas
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measurements:86.50 x 91.50 cm; Framed: 115.50 x 120.80 x 9.00 cm
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object type:
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credit line:Presented by the Scottish Modern Arts Association 1964.
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accession number:GMA 881
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gallery:
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depicted:
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subject:
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artwork photographed by:Antonia Reeve
Sir William Orpen
Sir William Orpen
Orpen was born in Blackrock, near Dublin. He studied at the Metropolitan School of Art in Dublin from his early teens before moving to London in 1897. Orpen subsequently studied at the Slade School of Fine Art for two years, where he became friends with the artist Augustus John. He later went on to become one of the most successful society portraitists of his day, commanding huge sums of money for his work. In 1917 Orpen worked as an Official War Artist in France.
