APRIL’S LADY.

aprils-lady-labelWM

Images: taken with permission at Lorfords Antiques, Tetbury, Gloucestershire.

  • Title(s): April’s Lady
  • Description: Oil sketch of a lady leaning forwards amongst blossom.
  • Media: Oil on canvas (Lorfords Antiques).
  • Dimensions: “H: 56 cm (22 1/16″) / W: 46 cm (18 1/8″)” (Lorfords Antiques).
  • Signature/date/other text: None on front of canvas (unless behind frame).
  • History:
    • [1900 – Exhibited Woman’s Exhibition, Earl’s Court, London, no. 1443, “April Lady”, valued at £36 15s 0d (about £4,500 at 2021 value). May be the same work as the 1933 and 2021 pieces, or a different “April/April’s Lady”]
    • 1933 – Exhibited Royal Academy, no. 494; shown in Royal Academy Illustrated for that year.
    • 2021 Aug 18 – Auctioned Lorfords Antiques, “Cleaned and relined oil sketch, in its original heavy gilded oak frame. Attributed to Annie Louisa Swynnerton (see label on reverse)”, sold: premium £2,850.
  • Location: ?

The 2021 auction listing says “Attributed to Annie Louisa Swynnerton”, but it is undoubtedly by her (Royal Academy Illustrated image, 1933).

The label on the back confirms the title as beginning with “April…”, but water damage has obliterate the rest of the writing. There does appear to be an apostrophe, so I’m using the title April’s Lady, as in the 1933 publication, not April Lady, which is sometimes used elsewhere.

The address, Annie’s studio at the time, is given on the back, “1A. [The] Avenue,” a location off Fulham Road, London.

1933 image

Image: Royal Academy Illustrated, 1933.

Thank you Grant Waters for the Royal Academy Illustrated image, and Lorfords Antiques, Tetbury, Gloucestershire, for their assisstance.

Page last updated 27 Sep 2025.