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Ralph Hedley R.B.A.
An incident in the life of Lough
1881
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Alternative titles
John Graham Lough in his studio
(Laing Art Gallery, 1938)
Lough at work (Executors’ Book (53)

oil on canvas
896 x 605 mm
SIGNED  b.l.c. R Hedley 81

EXHIBITED

Arts Association, Newcastle, 1881 (665)

Exhibition of Works by
Artists of the Northern Counties,
Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle, 1905, (133)

Ralph Hedley: Tyneside Painter,
Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle, 1990-91

PROVENANCE
Executors’ Book 1913 (53)

 

PUBLIC COLLECTION 

Laing Art Gallery,
Newcastle upon Tyne, England
Reference TWCMS : N2302
Purchased Christies,1987

 

Ralph Hedley Archive Reference
1881-W003

 

An incident in the life of Lough

The North-Eastern sculptor John Graham Lough (1798-1876) moved to London in 1824 and took lodgings in a greengrocer's shop. There he produced a statue of the classical athlete Milo that was so big that he made a hole in the ceiling to fit it in. The landlord consulted a young lawyer Mr. Brougham (later Lord Brougham, Lord Chancellor when Lord Grey was Prime Minister). He was impressed with the sculpture and before long the street where Lough lived was lined with the carriages of people wanting to see the statue.

When she saw the picture, artist’s widow wrote to Hedley saying –
‘I must say that the figure of my husband did not appear to be forcible enough’.