The Dentist

This painting The Dentist (1929) may not be everybody's cup of tea, but if you're a member of the British Dental Association (BDA) it's the bees knees. It was painted by ex-Glasgow Boy turned society portraitist Sir John Lavery, who became a Royal Academician in the days when they were still keeping the riff-raff out. The redhead in the chair is the artist's wife. The dentist threatening Lady Lavery with dental work is Conrad Ackner in his surgery at 47B Welbeck Street. The importance of the painting is that it is the only known UK work depicting early 20th Century dentistry. The BDA's appeal managed to raise the £60,000 needed to buy the work, with help from The Art Fund. It's on display in the BDA Museum (title link).