Oil on canvas, monogrammed at lower right, inscribed on the verso, dated 1980, unframed.

26 x 20 in.

Hester Donnelly was born in Georgia, but sent to live with a family friend in Wilmington, NC. She studied with Elisabeth Chant in the 1930s, alongside fellow Wilmington artist Claude Howell. She continued her art studies through correspondence courses at The Washington School of Art, followed by four years at the Corcoran Art School and the National Art School in Washington, DC.

In 1958, Hester Donnelly and Virginia McQueen founded an important art gallery in Wilmington, NC, located on Post Office Alley. In this space, they showcased local artists, including Claude Howell, and some historic art works. They taught art from this space, while Donnelly was also very involved with dramatic productions at Thalian Hall.

In the mid-1960s Donnelly and a group of art patrons had founded what would become today's beloved Cameron Art Museum.

Light surface grime and some mildewing to verso of canvas.