Sir John Lavery - In His Footsteps

18/06/2026

SOUTH KENSINGTON - LONDON
John Lavery moved into 5 Cromwell Place in South Kensington in early 1898. It was a significant move, having been living in Glasgow for over 20 years. Over the next 40 years, his studio below would welcome young models, politicians, writers and other artists, including Winston Churchill who used it as his own studio from time to time. Members of the Royal Family were also visitors, not just to view paintings but also attending social events. By the 1920s Lavery and his wife, Hazel, were celebrities and hosted numerous dinner parties in the studio.

Now the studio is part of "The Lavery" restaurant & cafe nextdoor at number 4, and can be hired for events.

16/06/2026

COUNTESS STREET - SALTCOATS - SCOTLAND
In the 1860s, 10 year old Irish orphan John Lavery, was sent to live in Scotland with his aunt's cousin, Thomas Byrne. Making the crossing over the Irish Sea with his aunt, who had raised him from the age of 3, Lavery thought he was going to live with a rich uncle. While reasonably well off, the reality was that Uncle Thomas ran the Union Loan Office in Countess Street and Lavery recalled the three golden balls hanging infront of the shop. Looking at the building to the right of the tower in the top photo, the balls can be seen above the Union Loan Office sign a few decades after Lavery arrived there.

Thank you to Three Towns Explored for the two images.

A comparison we've made before but we like it so much we thought we'd do it again! Countess Street, Saltcoats sometime in the 1890s, on or prior to 1897 (as that's when the town hall clock faces changed) and the same view again at sunset the other day. What's now tenements on the left hand side of the street (towards the middle) was, at the time of the old photo, the site of what was originally the Burgher Kirk, which later become a Good Templars Hall when the congregation moved to what's now Kirkgate Church. The tenements were built a few years after the old photo was taken.

Old photo by George Washington Wilson & Co, colourised by us.

15/06/2026

HOTEL CHEVILLON - GREZ-SUR-LOING - FRANCE
As a young artist, John Lavery spent several summers at Hotel Chevillon on the banks of the River Loing, at Grez, near Fontainebleau, France. Here he lived with other artists and painted scenes of the river, bridge and local people.

His first stay was in 1883 and he returned to spend several months the following year. Further visits were in 1897 and 1900.

Today the building is owned by a Swedish foundation and is a retreat for artists, writers, and musicians, so the creative international community continues.

Here is a photo I took of the entrance hall when I stayed there in 2019, in the footsteps of John Lavery.

15/06/2026

SALTCOATS - SCOTLAND
John Lavery was sent to live with his aunt's cousin in Saltcoats, Ayrshire, Scotland, at the age of 10. It was his first trip across the sea from Ireland. Living here for the next 5 years he developed a lovely of the sea which inspired much of his artwork from the 1890s onwards. It was also here that he first came across a man who could draw which triggered an interest in studying art.

Thank you for this image of Saltcoats shoreline.

Even though it happens this time every year, there’s something surreal about the sun not setting until after 10pm. Here’s tonight’s view from near the tower at the old bathing pond at Saltcoats shorefront, just a couple of minutes after sunset.

14/06/2026

GREZ-SUR-LOING - FRANCE
John Lavery spent the summer of 1883 at Hotel Chevllion in the village of Grez-sur-Loing, France. Joining other artists in a creative international community, Lavery was inspired to paint the river and medieval bridge several times. The reflections, shadows, and colours provide a wonderful sense of peace and tranquility and have been recorded by many artists over the last 150 years.

14/06/2026

GLASGOW - SCOTLAND
According to the Glasgow Herald, John Lavery's friends gave him a dinner at the The Glasgow Art Club & Gallery on Friday 14th June 1888 to celebrate his gold medal awarded by the Paris Salon for his painting titled "The Tennis Party" which he completed in 1885. Born in Ireland, Lavery was the first Scotland-based artist to win any medal from this prestigious Paris exhibition. Aged 32, he was finally being recognised for his talent and a few weeks later was commissioned by Glasgow Corporation to record the visit of Queen Victoria to the Glasgow International Exhibition.

Thank you to Aberdeen Art Gallery for the image of Lavery's painting.

The Tennis Party by Sir John Lavery, 1885
🎾 🎾 🎾 🎾🎾 🎾 🎾 🎾🎾 🎾 🎾 🎾🎾
How we LOVE this painting, made the same year Aberdeen Art Gallery opened. It's going to look ACE as part of the WINNING new displays when we re-open on 2.11.19

13/06/2026

NEWRY - NORTHERN IRELAND
This week a newly discovered Lavery painting was auctioned in Newry, Northern Ireland. No doubt painted in his studio in London, this scaled down version of Lavery's triptych "Madonna of the Lakes", modelled by his wife Hazel, daughter Eileen, and step-daughter Alice, was sold as part of the contents of The Sisters of Mercy Convent. The main work, completed in 1919, was gifted to St Patrick's church, Belfast, which was on the site of the chapel where Lavery's parents were married and he and his siblings were baptised in the 1850s.

Victor Mee Auctions is proud to announce The Sisters of Mercy Convent Sale, a remarkable three-day auction of ecclesiastical interiors, fine furniture, art, jewellery and decorative works taking place this June.
Among the extraordinary discoveries emerging from the collection is a rare Sir John Lavery work associated with his celebrated ‘Madonna of the Lakes’, recently uncovered during preparations for the sale and already attracting significant media attention.
The auction will take place live online on June 9th, 10th & 11th.
The catalogue will be released to our website in the coming days at https://victormeeauctions.ie/auctions/

10/06/2026

ORKNEY - SCOTLAND
John Lavery was here in the harsh winter weather of December 1917, painting the Grand Fleet in Longhope as a war artist. He had also recorded scenes in the London Hospital, France, Southampton and Queensferry. His efforts resulted in being knighted so that the Irish orphan from a humble background became Sir John, and his American wife, Hazel, became Lady Lavery.

09/06/2026

EDINBURGH - SCOTLAND
A new book about John Lavery's close friend Robert Bontine Cunninghame Graham, known as "Don Roberto", has just been published in Edinburgh.

The two men either met in Glasgow or Tangier, depending who was asked, when Lavery's career as an artist was taking off in the early 1890s. They spent time together at the The Glasgow Art Club & Gallery and travelled on horseback for weeks in Morocco through dangerous terrain. They would also meet in London, and Don Roberto was Lavery's best man when the latter married American widow, Hazel Martyn Trudeau, in July 1909.

Lavery painted his friend several times during a friendship that lasted over 40 years.

An extraordinary character, with an unbelievable lifestory - it should be a good read!

It’s officially launch day! 🎉

Scotland Street Press is excited to announce the release of ‘Don Roberto: The Adventure of Being Cunninghame Graham’ by James Jancey - available in all major book retailers!

This book details the remarkable story of R.B Cunninghame Graham: a writer, politician, adventurer, founding vice-president of the SNP and co-founder of the Scottish Labour Party.

Out Now.

09/06/2026

MANCHESTER - ENGLAND
I have been researching the lives of John Lavery's models. The painting below is of Nora, one of Lavery's favourite models from 1899 to 1909. Born in Scotland, she moved to London with her mother and, despite marrying another artist, continued to model for Lavery, even travelling with him to Tangier. I have also found her in the south of France and she spent time in Spain with her husband. Sadly her husband died in WW1 and on remarrying she lived in Canada. Her last known residence was Guernsey in the Channel Islands.

The painting is titled "Violet and Gold" referring to Nora's shot silk dress and was first exhibited in 1906. Manchester Art Gallery bought the painting that year. Thank you to Manchester Art Gallery for the image.