Morning

In 1922, Procter began to paint a series of simple, monumental portraits of young women that she knew. Emphasising the fall of light across the figures, Proctor gave them a powerful presence. This painting features Cissie Barnes, the sixteen-year-old daughter of a fisherman from Newlyn in Cornwall. This village was home to Procter for most of her working life. This painting was voted 'Picture of the Year' at the 1927 Summer Exhibition, a yearly show at the Royal Academy in London. It was bought for the nation by the Daily Mail newspaper. The popularity of the painting led to its being displayed in New York, followed by a tour of Britain.

Credit: Presented by the Daily Mail 1927