Harold Riley 1934-2023

Still Life, 1957

Oil on canvas
22 x 15¾ ins (55.88 x 40.01 cms)
Signed H.F. Riley

inscribed under Signature

To Uncle Vic '57

Price on application

Provenance

Bought directly from the artist by his uncle Victor in the late 1950s

General Notes

Harold Riley was educated at Salford Grammar School, from where in 1951 he won a scholarship to the Slade School of Fine Art, University College, London. After a one-year postgraduate course at the Slade, he won a travel scholarship to Italy, followed by a British Council Scholarship to study in Spain, and went on to study in Florence and Spain. He completed his National Service as an officer in 1957. The year this very rare early still life work was painted.

The interesting thing about this painting is that it has a portrait of the Blessed Virgin Mary on the reverse dated 1949. This is the earliest work by Riley we have ever seen. Harold was 15 when did this painting, so it was painted whilst he was still at school.