Artwork
Edward Arthur Walton, 1860 - 1922. Artist (With his fiancee Helen Law or Henderson, 1859 - 1945, later Mrs Edward Arthur Walton, as Hokusai and the Butterfly)
Edward Arthur Walton, 1860 - 1922. Artist (With his fiancee Helen Law or Henderson, 1859 - 1945, later Mrs Edward Arthur Walton, as Hokusai and the Butterfly) is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist John Lavery. It dates from 1895 and is held in the collection of the National Galleries Scotland.
About this work
Overview
In 1895 Sir John Lavery, an Irish painter noted for his portraiture, produced an oil on canvas that portrays Edward Arthur Walton and his fiancée Helen Henderson. The work, now held by the Scottish National Gallery, presents the couple in an imaginative, post‑impressionist style, with Walton dressed as the Japanese artist Hokusai and Henderson as a butterfly.
Subject & Meaning
Walton appears in a blue kimono, holding a fan, while Henderson wears a yellow dress adorned with butterfly motifs on her shoulders. Their seated poses suggest a playful, perhaps symbolic interaction, drawing on cross‑cultural references that were fashionable in the late nineteenth century.
Technique & Style
Lavery employs a post‑impressionist approach, using loose brushwork and a muted beige background to focus attention on the vivid costumes. The palette contrasts the cool blues of the male figure with the warm yellows of the female, enhancing the theatrical quality of the scene.
History & Provenance
Created in 1895, the painting entered the Scottish National Gallery’s collection, where it remains on display. Its provenance traces back to the artists’ personal circles, reflecting both Lavery’s connections within the Scottish art community and his interest in contemporary portraiture.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Sir John Lavery (20 March 1856 – 10 January 1941) was an Irish painter best known for his portraits and wartime depictions.
Anna Pavlova (1881–1931), as 'The Dying Swan'
Auguste Rodin (1840–1917)
Portrait of John Stewart Collis (1900-1984), Author
Portrait of W.E.H. Lecky (1838-1903), Historian
David Lloyd George (1863–1945)
Portrait of Dora Sigerson (Mrs Shorter) (c.1870-1918), Poet
Portrait of T.P. O'Connor, Parliamentarian and Journalist
Portrait of Lady Lavery as Kathleen Ni Houlihan
