Woman Smiling

This portrait is of John's partner Dorelia McNeill. She is shown wearing a dress she designed herself, with a high waist and long skirt. McNeill's style was influenced by Romany culture and she led a fashion for bohemian costume. John painted the work for the annual exhibition, 'Fair Women', organised by the International Society. The exhibition included modern portraits alongside older works by well-established painters. Reviewers compared John's picture to works by Anthony van Dyck (1599-1641) and Édouard Manet (1832-1883). John was one of the most highly regarded British artists of his day.

Credit: Presented by the Contemporary Art Society 1917