Name: Played!!, John Lavery
Brand: OnTrendAndFab
Price: 10.0 AUD
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In an era when lawn tennis swept through the British middle classes with unprecedented fervor, John Lavery found inspiration in the vibrant milieu of the game during his sojourn in France. Returning to Glasgow in 1884, he observed the tennis craze that had taken root in the suburbs, particularly at the court of his friend Alexander MacBride's family home, 'Cartbank.'

Unlike his contemporaries in the Glasgow School, Lavery embraced la vie moderne, recognizing the allure of capturing modern life over traditional peasant subjects. Thus began his exploration of tennis as a subject, marked by Tissot-esque paintings like "Beg Sir!" and "The Tennis Match."

However, the pinnacle of Lavery's tennis-themed oeuvre came with "The Tennis Party," a gold medal-winning canvas at the Paris Salon. Depicting not just the action but the entire scene, including the court and spectators, the avant-garde approach received criticism at the Royal Academy but celebrated acclaim in Paris.

Lavery's audacious pursuit of the subject continued with "Played!!," a daring portrayal of Elizabeth MacBride lunging forward to return her brother's serve. The painting encapsulates the challenges women faced in early tennis, restricted by cumbersome clothing. Lavery's keen eye for capturing movement and drama, honed through academic training in Paris, resulted in a masterly performance, conveying the immediacy of the game.

The watercolor version, "A Rally," painted after "Played!!," exhibits more defined figures but lacks the splendid spontaneity of its oil counterpart. Despite painting various tennis scenes throughout his career, Lavery's later works failed to match the originality and conviction of "Played!!." The painting remains a testament to the artist's ability to capture the essence of a moment in time, offering viewers a vivid and compelling snapshot of Victorian sportsmanship.