Early Tennis Painting Goes On Public Display for the First Time

The Barber Institute of Fine Arts 

One of the most vivid and compelling early images of the game of lawn tennis is now on display at the Barber Institute of Fine Arts, marking the first time Played! by Sir John Lavery has been exhibited to the general public.

The oil painting from 1885 forms part of the University of Birmingham-based gallery's hugely successful exhibition, Court on Canvas: Tennis in Art, which has been seen by over 14,000 visitors since opening in May 2011.

Above (left to right): Sir John Lavery - Played!, 1885. Private Collection. Photo courtesy of Christies. Sir John Lavery - A Rally, 1885. Glasgow Life/Glasgow Museums; Both by courtesy of Felix Rosenstiel's Widow and Son Ltd., London on behalf of the Estate of Sir John Lavery. James Watson - Response to Sir John Lavery - 'A Rally' (Detail), 2011.

Lavery's Played! is a dramatic study of a young woman lunging forward, despite cumbersome clothing, to return the serve of her male opponent. In these early days, women's tennis was often little more than a form of under-arm 'pat-ball' due to the restrictions imposed by long skirts, bustles and tight-lacing. Women were not expected to be so athletic as Lavery's heroine. Painted before the days of photography using celluloid film, Lavery captures her movement with great skill.

The career of Sir John Lavery was concurrent with the rapid spread of lawn tennis at the end of the 19th century. The Tennis Party, arguably his most ambitious canvas, can be seen as part of the Court on Canvas exhibition, as well as A Rally, a later, watercolour version of Played!. The sketch takes pride of place next to A Rally in the exhibition - the first time the oil and watercolour versions have ever been hung together.

As well as Played!, visitors can also see a contemporary tennis image by student photographer James Watson from Birmingham Institute of Art and Design (BIAD), part of Birmingham City University. He has responded to the scene featured in Played! and A Rally, giving the theme a modern twist - the young woman in his photograph is now dressed in a short dress and stilettos. James Watson's work will form part of Function II (13 October 2011 - 8 January), the Barber's photographic competition, now in its second year. Undergraduate students from BIAD's degree in Visual Communication have found inspiration in paintings on display at the Barber and James Watson's photograph offers a sneak preview into this exhibition.

The game of lawn tennis was pioneered barely a mile away from the Barber at 8 Ampton Road in Edgbaston by Major Harry Gem and his friend, Jean Batista Augurio Perera, in 1859. As well as Lavery, the game's popularity has helped it attract a diverse roll-call of artists including Spencer Gore, LS Lowry, Stanley Spencer, Eric Ravilious, Winnie-the-Pooh illustrator EH Shepard, David Hockney and Tom Phillips.

Court on Canvas includes a wide variety of delightful paintings, drawings, prints, sculpture, photography and mixed-media works dating from the 1870s through to the 21st century. These works also depict the romantic and social implications of the sport, from tennis parties in stately homes to matches on municipal public courts in urban centres.

This groundbreaking exhibition - the first ever ever to explore the subject of lawn tennis in art - not only represents tennis during the last 150 years, but also offers an outstanding overview of the varying artistic trends during that time. This exhibition is complimented by the publication Court on Canvas: Tennis in Art.

Court on Canvas: Tennis in Art is accompanied by a satellite show, A Gem of a Game: The Roots of Lawn Tennis in the West Midlands, which traces the game's origins and many connections with the Birmingham area. Objects on display include Harry Gem's original set of rules, Maud Watson's Wimbledon Flower Basket Trophy and the Athena 'Tennis Girl' poster, which was photographed on the University of Birmingham campus. 

Robert Wenley, Head of Collections and Learning at the Barber said: 'We are thrilled to be the first gallery to display Played! to the public in an exhibition most fitting for the painting. We did want it to be in the original line-up for the exhibition, but it was due to go on sale at Christie's, London and in fact was sold on the night we had the private view for Court on Canvas. Therefore, it was very exciting when the new owners agreed to lend the oil sketch as a late addition to the show.

 'Lavery's interest in tennis continued throughout his long career, with him depicting lawn tennis during visits to Paisley, London and as far afield as Palm Beach and Cannes. However, none of these later works can match the spontaneity and originality of Played!'

Played! is on display in the Barber from Tuesday 9 August until January 2012. Court on Canvas: Tennis in Art runs until 18 September and a Gem of a Game: The Roots of Lawn Tennis in the West Midlands closes on 1 September. Admission to both exhibitions and the permanent collection is FREE.