Isabel Codrington (1874-1943)

The art world in 1918-19 was astounded by the revelation of the contents of Degas' studio. Four sales were conducted in Paris and in the accompanying excitement, the large number of the French painter's late bathing scenes were revealed for the first time. Codrington, with her connections to the art trade, would have been aware of the dissemination of Degas' work and whilst The Bath is no direct homage to the master, it contains unmistakable echoes of his work. Degas' women bathing, in his more ambitious interiors for instance, are frequently attended by maids pouring water, holding towels or bringing cups of tea to their mistresses, as in the present picture. There however, the comparison ends, for Codrington's upright composition and cool palette are her own.

K Mc