Andrew Law (1873 - 1967), “Waterloo Street, Kilmarnock”, oil on canvas painted c

Oil on canvas: 14 3/4 x 18 1/2 in. (37.6 x 47 cm.)
Framed dimensions: 19 x 22 3/4 in. (48 x 58 cm.)
Painted circa 1902

Provenance:
Private collection, The Netherlands.

Though quite easily mistaken for a late 19th century representation of a Parisian street, the present painting actually shows a bustling scene set in - the now non-existent - Waterloo Street in Kilmarnock. Through broadly applied impressionistic brushstrokes, sometimes only using a single colour, the artist creates a great sense of movement and an idea that this was a moment captured. A horse drawn carriage features prominently to the foreground, which seems to be watched by a small child from the side of the road. Families and single figures are dispersed evenly along the street, crossing the road or window shopping. Law’s distinctive signature is placed to the bottom left of the painting, beside a Victorian street light.

Waterloo Street was one of a number of Kilmarnock streets that disappeared in 1970s redevelopment of the town. Others included Duke Street, Fore Street and Regent Street. This painting therefore represents an important representation of a once thriving street, now lost.

Andrew Law completed several paintings of Waterloo Street, which is where John Wilson, printer of the first edition of Robert Burns's Poems, had his printing office. Two very similar paintings are held at the Dick Institute's fine art collection. There is a story that claims that the Kilmarnock Town Council had intended to buy one of the paintings, now at the Dick Institute, but that they were unimpressed that Law had included the public toilets in the view. At their request Law completed another version of the same view but without the toilets!
 
In a label attached to the back of the earlier painting Law states that he painted it at the suggestion of a George Dunlop, from the Kilmarnock Standard newspaper, who bought the painting for £10.10s when it was exhibited at the Kilmarnock Art Exhibition in 1902. It seems very likely that the present painting was painted around the same time.

Here are links to the other perspectives held at The Dick Institute in Kilmarnock:
Same size: https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/waterloo-street-207765
Larger version: http://www.futuremuseum.co.uk/collections/people/key-people/artists/andrew-law/waterloo-street,-kilmarnock-(1).aspx
Other angle: http://www.futuremuseum.co.uk/collections/people/key-people/burns/john-wilson/waterloo-street,-kilmarnock.aspx

In the past ten years, two other versions have been sold at auction, both for £5000: the first at Thomas Callan in Ayr, the other at Bonhams: https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/21879/lot/154/https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/21879/lot/154/ 

Andrew Law was born at Crosshouse in Ayrshire, where his father was a miner and later a publican. He went to school in Kilmarnock and took evening art classes at the Kilmarnock Academy. In 1891, he was awarded the National Medal for Success in Art and won a place at the Glasgow School of Art, where his tutor was Fra Newbery.

In 1896, Law was awarded a travelling scholarship and spent six months studying in Paris, where he took lessons from Robert Henri and attended classes at the Académie Delécluse. After his time on the continent, Law returned to Kilmarnock and began a successful career accepting private portrait commissions.

Law married a Elizabeth Wilson in 1912, and the couple moved to Glasgow, where Law continued with his commissioned work. Law was active in the Glasgow Art Club and also taught part-time at the Glasgow School of Art until his retirement in 1938. During his long career, Law exhibited regularly at the Royal Scottish Academy, at the Glasgow Institute of Fine Art and at the Paris Salon. His only one-man show was in 1958.

The painting survives in excellent condition and is ready to hang.

Price includes UK P&P.