Artist Sir Gerald Festus Kelly: River Bank Pakokku, 9 February 1909

Artist Sir Gerald Festus Kelly (1879-1972): River Bank Pakokku, 9 February 1909

 
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Sir Gerald Festus Kelly (1879-1972):
River Bank Pakokku, 9 February 1909
Framed (ref: 491)
Signed, titled, dated and inscribed on the reverse, ‘No. 64 at W’
Oil on panel, 8 1/2 x 6 3/4 in. (21.6 x 17.2 cm.)

See all works by Sir Gerald Festus Kelly oil panel



Provenance: collection of Wilfred Tomlinson (stamped on the reverse); Sotheby’s, Sussex, 24 October 1989
Exhibited: Sir Gerald Kelly, Royal Academy, 1957 (no. 251)

Kelly’s visit to Burma, funded by Somerset Maugham, lasted from the end of 1908 to April 1909.

Pakokku is a stopping point for the Mandalay to Pagan ferries on the Irrawaddy River, about 15 miles north of Pagan. It is a tobacco-growing town with a busy market. In the upper left there is a buffalo-drawn cart and, on the lower right, figures under large umbrellas, all waiting for the ferry.

When shown in the 1957 Royal Academy exhibition of Kelly’s work, this panel was still owned by the artist.

We are grateful to Robert Thornhill for his assistance.