Oil painting entitled 'Celebration' by Vera Edith Ross (exhibited 1923-1936). Great Britain, 1925.

Oil painting entitled 'Celebration' depicting people of all ages dancing, singing and picnicking on a river bank with a church spire visible in the distance. There are men playing guitars and some people in fancy dress costume.

Given in accordance with the artist's wishes by C. N. Weekley

Given in accordance with the artist's wishes by C. M. Weekley, 1977


Vera Ross was a twentieth-century landscape and figure artist who was also known for the posters she designed for London Transport. She studied at The Slade School of Fine Art under the triumvirate of Wilson Steer, Henry Tonks and Randolph Schwabe and at one time shared a studio with Rex Whistler. In 1925 she exhibited at The New English Art Club and, in April of that year, at The Redfern Gallery, Old Bond Street where she displayed landscapes in watercolour. In 1930 she exhibited works including The Holiday, Versailles and A Minuet to Olden Times at The Imperial Gallery of Art, London. Of her works displayed at The Redfern Gallery, P G Konody for the Observer wrote that ‘Miss Vera Ross reveals in her strongly emphasised figure studies the soundness of Slade School training. Her watercolours are lively and gay in accentuation, and executed with a frank and fearless use of the medium.’(1) This frankness and liveliness can be seen in her work Celebration. She married Charles Montague Weekley with whom she had two children. In 1924 Charles Montague Weekley joined the Department of Circulation in the Victoria & Albert Museum and then in 1946 was appointed Officer-in-Charge of The Bethnal Green Museum (now The Museum of Childhood). During his time at The Bethnal Green Museum he implemented many changes, such as improving the children’s section. Weekley gave Celebration to the Victoria & Albert Museum in accordance with Ross’s wishes. Ross died in 1973.

Citations
1) P. G. Konody, ‘Art and Artists: The Redfern Gallery,’ The Observer, (12 April, 1925), p.6

P.28-1977