Scottish Modernism Oil Painting Spring Maternal Stillness by William McCance Framed C1947

Details

Description

Masterpiece: “Spring 1947” – Maternal Stillness by William McCance (Scottish, 1894–1970)
Signed Lower Right

Subject & Medium

Rendered in richly … Read more Masterpiece: “Spring 1947” – Maternal Stillness by William McCance (Scottish, 1894–1970)
Signed Lower Right

Subject & Medium

Rendered in richly textured oil on canvas, titled Spring 1947 – Maternal Stillness a moment of nurture presents a deeply intimate and symbolic domestic scene: a mother cat curled protectively on a windowsill, nurturing her young kittens. The moment feels timeless—quiet, sacred, and profoundly human in its resonance. A shaft of daylight breaks through the parted curtains, softly illuminating the feline forms. Nearby, a pale animal skull rests behind the mother—its presence both subtle and unsettling, a memento mori suggesting the fragile boundary between life and death. Circa postwar mid-20th century, dated 1947.

Through this deceptively modest tableau, McCance offers a philosophical meditation on rebirth and survival in the wake of devastation. Painted just two years after the end of World War II, the work transforms a humble domestic ritual into a universal allegory—a vision of continuity, tenderness, and the promise of renewal.

The medium—oil on canvas—allows for expressive impasto, lending a physical, almost sculptural quality to the brushwork. The surface carries a tactile presence; layers of pigment record each thoughtful stroke, amplifying the painting's emotional weight.

Composition & Technique

The composition of Spring 1947 – Maternal Stillness is masterfully structured. McCance uses the curved diagonal of the mother cat’s body to draw the viewer’s eye across the scene—from the gentle rhythm of the feeding kittens, to the subtle intrusion of the skull, and outward toward the spring landscape framed by the window. The background is draped in folds of green and brown velvet curtains, their vertical flow contrasting with the horizontal calm of the cats below. In our opinion, this is an exceptionally significant work by McCance.

The color palette is earthy yet luminous:

Rich siennas and warm umbers define the cats' forms
Mossy greens and charcoal greys anchor the curtains and shadowed interior
Hints of sky blue, lavender, and bare winter whites peek through the open window, suggesting both seasonal and spiritual transition
McCance’s brushstrokes are deliberate but expressive—short, textured, and sculptural in some areas; fluid and atmospheric in others. The handling of paint evokes both post-impressionist emotionalism and the structural influence of Cubism. The mother cat’s form is slightly abstracted, emphasizing volume over detail, while the kittens are more gestural—capturing movement and need. The skull, in stark white, is modeled with dramatic tonal contrast, giving it a spectral presence within the otherwise warm composition.

The result is a stylistic fusion—balancing McCance’s early modernist rigor with the emotional subtlety of his later years. There is poetry in the stillness, and quiet drama in every line.

Signed
This original work is signed “W. McC” in the lower right corner—authenticating it as an original by William McCance.

About the Artist

William McCance (1894–1970) was a pioneering figure of British Modernism. Born in Cambuslang, Scotland, and educated at the Glasgow School of Art, he defied convention as a conscientious objector during WWI—an act that shaped both his moral compass and artistic vision. Influenced by Vorticism, Futurism, and Cubism, his early works vibrate with angular abstraction and modernist clarity. Later in life, alongside his wife and fellow artist Agnes Miller Parker, McCance embraced a softer, introspective style—imbuing his art with poetry, silence, and a deep reverence for life’s quiet rituals. His paintings have sold for over $68,000 USD at auction.

Dimensions (Framed)
60 cm Wide × 50.5 cm High × 3.5 cm Depth
Set in a later frame

Provenance

From the Estate of William McCance
Acquired at a Notable Scottish Auction (label verso)
Curated by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD
Exhibited:
Reading Museum and Art Gallery, Reading, 11 June–2 July 1960, Cat. No. 49
Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, Edinburgh, 11 October–25 November 1990
Lord Hill Museum, 4 July 2025
Why You’ll Love It

Museum-exhibited and historically significant post-war work
Emotionally powerful scene of maternal care and survival
Created by a renegade voice in British modernism
Rich symbolism—life, death, and the return of spring
Perfect for collectors of Scottish Modernism and 20th-century allegory
A rare and tender moment captured by a rebellious master of form See less