King (Jessie Marion, 1875-1949) The Lament, pen and black ink, touches of watercolour, heightened with silver and gold on vellum, signed in the lower right corner with title set within decorative border, 250 x 360 mm. (9 7/8 x 14 1/4 in), under glass, minor surface dirt, [probably circa 1890s]

Provenance:
Sale. Sotheby's, English Illustrated Books of the 19th and 20th Centuries, 10th March 1975

⁂ A particularly large and fine drawing on vellum. Originally one of the "Glasgow Girls" alongside Annie French, Jessie M. King was well known and later became highly regarded for her illustrated children's books. She began her studies at the Glasgow School of Art aged 17 where she studied under Charles Rennie Mackintosh (1868-1928). It was shortly after this, circa 1900-1910, where it is said she began regularly drawing on vellum. The drawings produced by King at this stage in her career are linked through their fine execution and precise handling of ink, and incorporate numerous art-nouveau maidens alongside other elegant figures.

The present drawing with its delicate and highly detailed rendering of a rather sombre subject achieves a haunting, yet beautifully dreamlike artistic vision, and would appear to have been produced at the apotheosis of King's early career. Following her travels to Paris she entered a new stage in her artistic development and is considered influential in the creation of the Art Deco movement. In addition to books, she also designed jewellery and fabrics for Liberty, created large decorative batik panels and hand painted porcelain.