William Eadie

About the Painting

This oil on canvas painting by Scottish artist William Eadie (1846-1926) depicts a woman in a red dress seated by a large window, peeling potatoes with contemplative grace. The work exemplifies Eadie's skill in painting domestic subjects, featuring warm, natural lighting that streams through the window to illuminate the peaceful scene.

The artist's careful attention to detail is evident in the rich textures of the wooden interior, the delicate rendering of the woman's red dress, and the subtle play of light and shadow throughout the composition. This intimate domestic moment captures the quiet dignity of everyday Victorian life, a subject that fascinated both artists and audiences during the late 19th century.

A label on the back indicates the authorship of the painting and suggests a date of execution between 1871 and 1890, though stylistic analysis points to the late 19th or early 20th century. The painting reflects the Victorian era's fascination with scenes of daily life and domestic tranquility, rendered with the naturalistic approach characteristic of British realism.

About the Artist

William Eadie (1846-1926) was a distinguished Scottish painter renowned for his intimate domestic interior scenes and genre paintings. Born in Scotland in 1846, Eadie specialized in domestic subjects throughout his career, which spanned until 1926.

Eadie relocated from Scotland to St John's Wood, London, before establishing himself as a winter resident of St Ives, Cornwall, in 1885. This move to St Ives placed him among the notable artists of the famous St Ives artist colony, a community that attracted many prominent painters of the late Victorian era. The St Ives colony became known for its focus on naturalistic painting and plein air techniques, though Eadie concentrated primarily on interior scenes.

Upon arriving in St Ives, Eadie initially converted an old out-house into his studio, and he and his wife Annie Eadie lived at Halsetown. This period proved to be highly productive for the artist, as he became deeply integrated into the local artistic community. His paintings are characterized by their warm, naturalistic lighting and careful attention to detail in depicting household objects, furniture, and figures within domestic settings.

Eadie's work represents an important strand of Victorian genre painting that focused on the intimate moments of everyday life rather than grand historical or mythological subjects. His ability to capture the quiet beauty of domestic labor and the contemplative nature of daily routines made his work appealing to Victorian audiences and continues to resonate with viewers today.

Technical Details

Artist: William Eadie (1846-1926)
Signed: Unsigned
Date: c.1871-1890
Medium: Oil on canvas
Condition: Very good condition
Dimensions: 46 x 30 cm / 18 x 11¾ in
Frame: 53 x 37 cm / 20¾ x 14¾ in, wood, very good condition
Provenance: Germany (label on verso)

An intimate example of Victorian domestic genre painting by a Scottish St Ives artist.