William John Leech RHA (1881 - 1968) Lake Geneva, Winter (1911) Oil on canvas, 66 x 51.4cm (26 x 21.25'') Inscribed artist's label verso Provenance: Collection Terence de Vere White, purchased...

William John Leech RHA (1881 - 1968) Lake Geneva, Winter (1911) Oil on canvas, 66 x 51.4cm (26 x 21.25'') Inscribed artist's label verso Provenance: Collection Terence de Vere White, purchased Adams, 1978 by the present owner. Exhibited: 'Visions of Switzerland, Venice etc by W.J.Leech', RHA, Goupil Gallery , London April and May 1912 as No. 35 ''The Lake Winter'': Adam's, 14 Sept 1978, illus. oil on canvas, 25 x 21 and titled ''Lake of Geneva in Winter.'' Although the Goupil Gallery catalogue has a handwritten note dated 23.1.13, denoting that this work is designated for the annual RHA, there is no record that the work was included among the 9 exhibited works. Literature: ''William John Leech: An Irish Painter Abroad'' by Denise Ferran NGI, 1996, Fig 29 p57 1910 was an important year for Leech, he was elected a full academician and his family left Dublin for London so stays in Ireland became sporadic. He possibly painted ''Killiney Bay under Snow'' and ''Killiney Bay'' prior to his visit to Switzerland and Venice in late 1910 which demonstrated the dominant influence Whistler had then on his work. Leech was already familiar with Switzerland having spent 1897 studying French in which he became fluent preparing him for his student years in Paris and subsequent years painting in France. He painted several water colours of trees framing views over snow clad fields, two of which are in the collection of the National Gallery and illustrated in colour in Ferran, 1996, pgs 144 - 147. These exemplify the freedom Leech had developed in his subject matter, composition and brush work which he continues in ''The Lake.'' This pared down approach is emphasized by the use of his characteristic foreground diagonal which presents the view of the valley below, framed by two finely drawn trees with their sprinkling of a few remaining Autumn leaves. The influence of Whistler was superseded only a year later when Leech became absorbed by the light and colour of Monet and Post-Impressionism culminating in ''The Convent Garden'' or as titled by Leech, ''Les Soeurs du St. Esprit'' which is now listed as one of Ireland's favourite paintings. Dr Denise Ferran April 2012

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