Acquired from the Royal Academy by Lord Grantchester in 1964 and thence by family descent toꦗ the present owner

Sir Kyffin Williams, Across the Straights, London, Duckworth Pr🍸ess, 1973, n.p., illustrated

London, Royal Academy, Summer Exhibition, 1964, no. 250

The sitter of this intimate portrait, Anna Lindholme, was an old friend of Kyffin Williams. In an interview from 1995, Williams recounts their first meeting on a train from Euston to Wale𓂃s, where, by chance, they sat opposite each other. Although enchanted by thi✤s 'very beautiful girl with extraordinary, unusual features', Williams never thought he'd see her again. A couple of years later, he bumped into Anna with her husband at a gathering in Hampstead and from then on their friendship blossomed.

The present work was painted in 1962 and submitted to the Royal Academy's Summer Exhibition in 1964. In the same interview from 1995, Williams laments sending it to the Academy; 'I'm rather sorry I did, because it was one of the bes🐓t portraits I've ever painted.' Set against a dark, tonal background, Anna's elegant features are expertly painted by Williams. Staring off to the left of the painting, her captivating composure and inquisitive character is reflected in her piercing eyes and delicately pursed lips. Williams' characteristic painterly surface helps reflect this acute interest in his sitter, with much attention being paid to her sensory features. The present work featured prominently in a BBC Cymru film titled ‘Horizons Hung in Air: Kyffin Williams’ produced🎃 in 1966 by John Ormond.

A beautiful ode to an old friend, Anna is an engaging and intimate portrait, on🔥e𒀰 which is exemplifies Kyffin's ability to so brilliantly reflect character and emotion upon a canvas.

Bought by Lord Gr𓆏antchester in 1964 at the Royal Academy's Summer Exhibition, the portrait h💫as remained in the same family ever since.