The White Rat

Charles Spencelayh 1865 - 1958

Summary

Three-quarter length portrait of a young working class boy, in dungarees, wearing an old worn jacket and cap. The boy stands looking at a pet white rat, which he holds in his left hand. There is a dark background.

Display Label

The White Rat 1899 Charles Spencelayh 1865 - 1958 Oil on canvas This tender portrait of a boy with his pet is typical of the artist’s style, which is notable for its almost photographic realism. Spencelayh’s careful attention to detail, evident here in the treatment of the clothes, may stem from the fact that he also produced miniatures. Kent-born Spencelayh lived in Manchester in the 1920s. Here he was supported by a wealthy cotton manufacturer who arranged for 23 of his works to be shown in the entrance hall of the Midland Hotel. Purchased 1926.10