Sir Gerald Festus Kelly 1879-1972 British School Early 20th Century. Oil study on board of Palm trees 22cm x 26cm. Circa 1910.
Known primarily for his portraits and studies of Burmese dancers, Kelly travelled extensively throughout Spain, North and South Africa and Burma. Producing landscape studies. Greatly influenced early in his career by the landscapes of James MacNeill Whistler. Stylistically this work was is comparable to other landscape works of the period around 1910.
He exhibited at the Royal Academy from 1909 onwards and was a founder-member of the Modern Portrait Painters Society and the National Portrait Society. A favourite of the Royal Family, his works are found in many collections including the Tate Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery.