This small oil on board is of a charming cottage type interior and features a woman sitting beside an inglenook fireplace. It was painted by Yorkshire artist, Arthur Wright Newsholme. Born in Bradford 1859, the son of a chemist, Arthur and his brother did not join the family business but instead went into somewhat more creative positions within the textile industry. Arthur’s brother went into textile design and Arthur went on to specialise in textile dyes and ladies dress material. The connection to the textile industry can be seen in several of Arthur’s paintings which often include mills, factories and weavers at work.

The interior appears to be the same room featured in another painting we have listed, but from a different angle and with a couple of differences, or what might be considered improvements. The inglenook fireplace has been adapted, a window moved and enlarged, a stool replaced with a large Windsor chair and a table sits laid out with a white table cloth and dinnerware. Arthur perhaps painted these two paintings to physically show the successful growth in their work and home life.

Arthur spent much of his life in Baildon, West Yorkshire, nearby scenic views feature in some of his paintings. Arthur was a member of the Yorkshire Union of Artists and did take part in local exhibitions but art appears to have always been a secondary occupation, as was common at this time.

The painting is signed with initials and his name is further written on the back. The date on the back of 1931 might be a little later than the completion of the painting, possibly when it was framed or gifted to someone.

Frame measures 32cm x 25cm

Aperture measures 24.5cm x 17.5cm