Mabel "Beldy" Maugham (British, 1874-1972). Fabric collage, ca. 1940s. Signed "Beldy" at the lower left. Mabel Maugham (formerly Hardy and also known as "Beldy") made intriguing genre scenes comprised of multiple layers of diaphanous fabric that have been stitched together rather than glued. The effect of her process is to create elegant silhouettes of figures with stitched details on top, as we see here. Her father, artist Heywood Hardy, taught her the fundamentals of art, and when she was only 8 years old, the Gilded Age artist James Abbott McNeill Whistler declared, "We shall certainly hear of her one day." In 1929, after working primarily in watercolor, Beldy had the idea to create fabric collages. In time she mastered this innovative medium which drew upon her undeniable skills as a painter and draughtsman. Beldy possessed a remarkable talent, transferring the effects of the brush to this innovative technique. Size of image: 8.375" L x 10.625" W (21.3 cm x 27 cm) Size of frame: 14.375" L x 19.125" W (36.5 cm x 48.6 cm)

Beldy comes from a long line of artists. She was the daughter of British artist Heywood Hardy (British, 1842-1933) who is best known for his paintings of hunting themes, and Heywood's grandfather, Sir William Beechey (British, 1753-1839), was a respected portraitist. Beldy's work has been exhibited internationally in London, New York, Paris, Milan, Rome, Turin, Basel, and Geneva - and most notably at Victoria and Albert Museum in London as well as the Jeu de Paume in Paris. Her artistic lineage continued after her death, as Beldy's daughter, Daphne Mabel Maugham (1897-1982) was a successful British artist who worked in Turin, Italy.

Provenance: The William F. Draper Collection, New York City, USA

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#153298

The collage has not been examined outside the frame but appears to be in very nice condition. Signed "Beldy" at the lower left. Wired for suspension and ready to display.