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 figure in this painting is possibly Arthur’s wife, Agnes, who is listed as assisting him in his textile work from home. The woman in the painting appears to be working on a piece of textile in her lap. There are further brightly coloured fabrics draped over the chair, they contrast somewhat with the earthy tones of their surroundings and the woman’s dress.

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 added note looks similar to Arthur’s handwriting writing on the back of another painting previously sold by an art shop but it could also be a later owner of the painting. It’s also very likely that the date on the back of 1931 is a little later than the original completion of the painting, possibly when it was framed or gifted to someone.

The frame measures 29cm x 24.5cm

Aperture measures 21.5cm x 17cm