Artwork
My dining room
My dining room is an oil painting by the American Impressionist artist Annie Elizabeth Kelly. It dates from 1936 and is held in the collection of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1936 by New Zealand painter Annie Elizabeth Kelly, *My dining room* is an oil on canvas that depicts an interior domestic scene. The work is part of the collection of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa and is associated with the American Impressionism current of the period.
Subject & Meaning
The composition presents a modest dining area centred on a round table set with a white cloth and a bowl of fruit. Behind the table hang two portrait paintings, while a fireplace with a vase of flowers occupies the left side. A rug, a couch and a chandelier complete the setting, conveying a sense of everyday comfort and private hospitality.
Technique & Style
Kelly renders the scene with a realistic approach, emphasizing careful delineation of furniture and decorative objects. The palette is restrained, dominated by muted browns, beiges and whites, which enhances the intimate atmosphere. Subtle modelling of light and shade suggests a gentle chiaroscuro that gives depth to the interior.
History & Provenance
Annie Elizabeth Kelly, noted for her portrait work and the first New Zealand woman awarded a CBE for services to art, painted this piece during a mature phase of her career. It entered the Te Papa collection through acquisition, where it remains on public display.
Artist & collection
Artist
Annie Elizabeth Kelly (née Abbott; 12 April 1877 – 4 October 1946) was a New Zealand artist best known for her portrait paintings. She was the first New Zealand woman to receive the CBE for services to art.
Museum
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Continue through works from the same source collection.
The Dining Room, Stenton
Watercolour
The Dining Room at No.3 The Close, Winchester
Interiør med en samovar. Aften
Portrait of a woman in an armchair
Interior of a Studio
The Commode
The Drawing room at 3, The Close, Winchester
The Living-Room of the Misses Munch in Pilestredet 61
A winter evening
A Party in the Artist's Home
Kitchen