Ferens Art Gallery has acquired a painting by one of the region’s most celebrated artists with a generous grant from Art Fund.
The stunning triptych – a canvas in three parts – is called, Portrait of a Woman, and was recently displayed at the gallery as part of the exhibition, Ian McKeever: Paintings 1992-2017.
The painting is currently on display in Gallery 3 with five works on paper that were generously donated by the artist.
McKeever is widely regarded as one of the most significant British painters of his generation. He grew up in Withernsea and became familiar with the Ferens’ collection as a boy.
The Portrait of a Woman painting is part of a wider series of the same name. The title of the group alludes to McKeever’s fascination with the history of portraiture from Early Renaissance Italian painting to modern photography.
Portrait of a Woman, Ian McKeever, 2016.
The work has been acquired using the Ferens Endowment Fund with the assistance of Art Fund.
Stephanie Jones, exhibitions assistant at Ferens Art Gallery, said: “We are very proud to have secured this important contemporary painting by the locally born artist Ian McKeever.
“McKeever was inspired by the work of Stanley Spencer the Ferens Art Gallery as a boy, so it seems very appropriate that we have come full circle to acquire an example of his own work for our permanent collection.”
One of the five recent works on paper donated by the artist was inspired directly by a sixteenth century portrait in the permanent collection, William Segar’s ‘A Noblewoman’.
Councillor Marjorie Brabazon, chair of Hull Culture and Leisure, said: “Ian McKeever’s recent exhibition was incredibly well received by visitors, so it’s fantastic that we have been able to acquire this piece for our permanent collection.
“The range of world-class artwork on display at Ferens continues to grow, improving its reputation both regionally and nationally.”
