Old woman with children
Date made: n.d.
Artist: Fox, John Stamper
Description: An old woman sits with two children in a cottage. A pot of food is cooking, though not on the hearth. One of the children appears to be taking some food whilst the woman sleeps. He is barefoot, whilst the other has shoes.
This painting is problematic for a number of reasons. There is no signature either to front or rear, and the attribution to John Stamper Fox is unsupported by any documentation. Indeed, in the original register entry the artist's name has been added later in a different hand.
Furthermore, with the possible exception of a dollan hanging behind the woman, this scene includes none of the classic elements of a Manx cottage interior. There is no chiollagh, with mantlepiece adorned with lustreware,a nd there is no slourree with cooking pot. Indeed the question of why the family are cooking in the middle of the room (and on what) is a perplexing one.
The scene is perhaps more typical of a European (Dutch?) cottage interior.
Measurements: overall: 69 cm x 94 cm; unframed artwork: 50 cm x 73 cm
Materials: oil on canvas
Object name: painting
Collection: Art Collection
ID number: 1954-2995
Subject tags : cottage hearth fireplace
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