Al fresco1927

This small, informal domestic scene painted at the Badham family’s Vaucluse unit captures the relaxed mood of this gathering. Herbert Badham’s wife, Enid Wilson, at the far end of the table talks with her sister Esme. Enid’s brother Reg is seated next to their mother, Julia Wilson.

Painted the year after he completed his studies at Sydney Art School, Badham conveys the ordinariness of the scene yet encapsulates taste and style; incorporating modern design, vivid colours, geometric angles, and an interesting viewpoint.

In its original, painted wooden frame, Al fresco was exhibited at the Society of Artists annual exhibition in Sydney the year it was painted.