Fiona
Oil on canvas.
48 x 28 inches
Royal Academy, 1986, no. 510
John Ward, The Paintings of John Ward, David & Charles, London, 1991, p. 87, ill.
'It has always seemed sensible to vary the model's pose halfway through the day. This version of Fiona was painted in the afternoons, the Turkish Gown in the mornings. When I came to finish the head the model stood beside me so that I could see details with the greatest clarity.'This model was stolen from a friend who is an amateur painter. Jehan Daly discovered him trying to paint this beautiful girl and was so impressed by her that he persuaded the artist to bring her along to me. Since she was not working then I managed to employ her for some months.'