Painting description

Undertaking this subject as an oil painting a was part of my first-year art college education in 1963 (some 49 years ago!). It was presented at the end of my pre-diploma year and the resulting pass enabled me to continue at Manchester College of Art and complete my course. This piece is my earliest surviving oil painting - apart from four others in private hands sold during the 1960s - and being offered for sale for the first tim. Painted in oils on canvas, the paint surface is showing visible cracking under the varnish through age. There is also slight damage to the canvas (visible top left) dating from the time of making the original canvas support (half a century ago).