John Frederick Harrison Dutton (British, 1872-1930?) The stolen kiss, 1904 Oil on canvas 43 x 66-1/4 inches (109.2 x 168.3 cm) Signed and dated lower right: J F Harrison Dutton / 1904 PROVENANCE: Alderman F. S. Dodson, Taunton, Somerset, England; Lisa Schiller Fine Art, New York, in 1986; Mrs. Helen Smith, Scottsdale, Arizona, acquired from the above, 1986; Gaige and Company Auction House, Scottsdale, Arizona, August 27, 2006; Private collection, Paradise Valley, Arizona, acquired from the above. The earliest-known owner of this romantic genre scene by British portraitist, John Frederick Harrison Dutton, was F. S. Dodson, who served as Alderman of the town of Taunton in Somerset, England, during the early part of the 20th century. Dodson was an active participant in Taunton's highly popular historical pageants that were staged as fundraisers for the community's beneficent organizations, i.e., hospital building funds, athletic funds, district nursing associations, Red Cross Ambulance, and so-called "Mental Defectives' fund, among others. These civic pageants performed throughout England tended towards reliving the Medieval past, in fact as well as in legend; prominent citizens and humble shopkeepers alike enjoyed an opportunity to participate in this community entertainment. Whether from a tale of King Arthur, Robin Hood or another famous episode from English history, the strongly historicizing nature of A stolen kiss doubtless appealed to Alderman Dodson whose own involvement with his city's pageants would have had a very similar flavor. The beautifully rendered costume worn by the sleeping beauty in this scene dates more to the later Medieval period than the Renaissance, and is datable to circa 1400-1450. Dutton lavished tremendous attention on the way the sinuous organic designs flow in and out of the heavy folds. The painting is an ambitious late-career creation by Dutton whose artistic achievement rests largely on his portraits of notables from northwest England (Manchester, Bolton and Chester). The impressive scale of the painting together with its subject matter strongly suggest that the work was an important commission, likely from Alderman Dodson himself. Many thanks to Craig Schermer for his assistance in dating the costumes. HID03101062020 © 2020 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved