Charles Spencelayh (1865-1958) ADORABLE ORIGINAL FEMALE OIL PORTRAIT PAINTINGBrief Description:We are delighted to offer for sale this exceptional Original late 19th-century Oil on Canvas Portrait Painting by arguably one of the greatest British Portrait artists of the 19th/20th centuries.Charles Spencelayh RA (1865-1958) A favourite artist of Queen Mary, who was an avid collector of his work.This magnificent example was painted by Spencelayh in 1895 at the age of 30.Indeed, the painting is both signed ''Charles Spencelayh'' and dated ''1895'' in the lower left corner.The work portrays an affluent young curly-haired girl with blue eyes who is seated on a regency armchair with an illustrated book in her hands.Propping up her little body whilst she is seated in the adult''s chair is a silk sofa cushion.The attention to detail throughout the painting is truly outstanding, in an almost photographic-like manner.Spencelayh even portrays the little girl''s face and small knees with tiny, muddy marks.Her fingernails and fingertips are also dirty, such is the quality of the execution.The painting is presented in an immaculate original condition, and it is mounted within a grand-sized (later) deep-scrolled gesso frame. Artist Biography:Charles Spencelayh (October 27, 1865 – June 25, 1958) was an English genre painter and portraitist in the Academic style.Spencelayh was born in Rochester in Kent and first studied at the National Art Training School, South Kensington. He showed his work at the Paris Salon, but most of his exhibitions were in Britain. Between 1892 and 1958, he exhibited more than 70 paintings at the Royal Academy, including ''Why War'' (1939), which won the Royal Academy ‘Picture of the Year’. He had a solo exhibition at The Sunderland Art Gallery in 1936.Spencelayh was a founder member of the Royal Society of Miniature Painters, where he exhibited 129 miniatures between 1896 and 1954.Many of his subjects were domestic scenes, painted with an almost photographic detail, such as ''The Laughing Parson'' (1935) and ''His Daily Ration'' (1946). He also painted still life subjects including ''Exploration'' (1931) and ''Apples'' (1951).Spencelayh was a favourite of Queen Mary, who was an avid collector of his work. In 1924 he painted a miniature of King George V for the Queen''s dolls house.On 17 December 2009, Spencelayh''s masterpiece ''The Old Dealer'' was sold at auction at Sotheby''s for over £345,000.Attributes:Oil on Canvas paintingSigned: ''Charles SpencelayhCirca/Dated: 1895Inscribed verso: ''A Little Read''Condition:Both the painting and the frame are offered in an overall exceptional original condition.Framed Measurements: INCHES & CENTIMETRESHeight: 36.5'''' | 92.7 cmWidth: 26.1'''' | 66.2 cmDepth: 2.9'''' | 7.3 cm^^ Fast & Free UK Delivery Included^^*A Certificate Of Authenticity (COA) will be provided by ...