Scottish Edwardian Girl Reading Story Oil Portrait, c1914 by David Alison R.S.A. (1882–1955)

🎨 Scottish Edwardian Child Portrait, 1914 — David Alison R.S.A. (1882–1955) Oil on Canvas, Signed and Dated

🖼️ Subject & Medium
Oil on canvas, signed and dated 1914, this intimate portrait shows a blonde child seated with an open book, absorbed in quiet reading. A well-loved teddy bear sits nearby, adding warmth and narrative charm. Her composed expression and soft, outward gaze create a reflective mood, capturing both innocence and presence in a finely observed early 20th-century portrait.

✨ Composition & Technique
A strong example of Alison’s tonal approach, the figure is set against a cool, softly graded background of greys with muted blue notes, giving depth while keeping the sitter crisply defined. The white dress is carefully modelled with warm cream tones and silvery shadowing, conveying real weight and structure rather than flat brightness.

A deep crimson red sash and trim anchors the palette and introduces rhythm, repeatedly drawing the eye back to the face. The child’s hair is painted with luminous ivory and honeyed highlights, while the skin tones—rose, peach, and pale pink—are layered with sensitivity to suggest youthful softness and vitality.

The natural three-quarter pose feels unforced, and the relationship between face, book, and teddy bear creates a gentle visual flow through the painting. Alison balances refined finish in the features with freer handling in the background and fabric, producing atmosphere and a sense of air while keeping the composition harmonious and assured.

👨🎨 About the Artist
David Alison R.S.A. was a leading Scottish portrait painter of the early 20th century, admired for disciplined drawing, tonal control, and commitment to traditional portrait values. Born in Dysart, Fife, he trained at the Glasgow School of Art and later studied on the Continent, taking lasting influence from Old Master traditions and painters such as Raeburn, Velázquez, Ingres, and Goya.

In 1913 he became Head of Drawing and Painting at Edinburgh College of Art, a prestigious appointment that positioned him at the centre of Scottish academic training. He served during the First World War and was wounded at Gallipoli in 1915, an event that affected his health thereafter. Elected Associate of the Royal Scottish Academy in 1916 and later a full Academician in the early 1920s, he exhibited widely, including at the Royal Academy in London. His early, dated portraits—especially of children—remain particularly collectible.

🕰️ Historical Importance
Painted in 1914, at the close of the Edwardian era and immediately before the First World War, this portrait preserves a sense of domestic calm and childhood innocence just before a period of sweeping social change. Works firmly dated to this moment are especially resonant, capturing the character of an era on the brink of transformation.

✍️ Signed
Signed and dated “David Alison, 1914” by the artist.

🖼️ Framed
Housed in its original substantial decorative gilt frame, richly ornamented and well-suited to the period. The frame adds gravitas and strong wall presence.

📐 Dimensions Framed:
Height 107 cm · Width 86.5 cm · Depth 7 cm
A large, impressive scale suitable as a focal point in a refined interior.

📜 Provenance
Private Scottish collection.
Verso: notable Scottish auction label; acquired via Lyon & Turnbull, Edinburgh; now in the collection of Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD.

✅ Why You’ll Love It
✅ Fully signed and dated 1914 from a highly desirable period
✅ By a Royal Scottish Academy artist with established reputation
✅ Collectible subject: child portrait with narrative warmth
✅ Strong tonal harmony with confident use of crimson red
✅ Decorative impact paired with serious art-historical interest
✅ A rare balance of emotional intimacy and academic control

🛠️ Condition Report
Fine used condition consistent with age. The paint surface shows areas of foxing, dirt, staining, and discolouration, with some craquelure and minor paint loss toward the edges. The frame has general wear including scuffs, scratches, chips, cracking, and small losses. Protective glass shows scratches and foxing. A professional clean is recommended to restore tonal clarity and richness.