Gilman became a leading English Post-Impressionist painter before dying at the age of 43 during the severe flu epidemic that swept Britain in 1918-19.
Gilman’s Portrait of Mrs Victor Sly was painted at the outbreak of the First World War and is typical of his mature style. At this time he had fully absorbed the influence of the Post-Impressionists, particularly Van Gogh, in his use of powerful colours and thick paint.
The subject of this painting was Dora Sly. She lived near Sickert’s studio on Fitzroy Street and was friendly with many of the artists in this circle who would help her out when she was hard up for money. She is seen here in Gilman’s Maple Street rooms.
