L13404

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Lot 334
  • 334

[Yeats, W.B.]--Boughton, Alice

Estimate
3,000 - 5,000 GBP
bidding is closed

Description

  • [Yeats, W.B.]--Boughton, Alice
  • Portrait photograph of Yeats, 1903
  • photographs
platinum print (visible area 222 x 168mm.), signed by the photographer in ink on the image lower left ("Copyrighted by Alice Boughton"), mounted on card, framed and glazed, original label on back of mount (part missing)

Provenance

This lot and the next are from the collection of the scholar William Michael Murphy (d.2008), author of the authoritative biographies on the Yeats family Prodigal Father and Family Secrets. The core of his Yeats collection came from the poet Jeanne Robert Foster (1879-1970), a friend and neighbour in Schenectady, NY. Forster had cared for John Butler Yeats in the years before his death in 1922, and had also worked closely with the collector John Quinn (1870-1924), a friend and patron to W.B. Yeats. On Quinn's death she had inherited portions of his collection, which passed in turn to Murphy.

Literature

Kelly, John (editor). The Collected Letters of W.B. Yeats. (London, 1994), volume 3, 1901-1904

Condition

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Catalogue Note

A rare and fine portrait of Yeats by American photographer Alice Boughton (c.1866-1943), probably from the collection of John Quinn. Quinn arranged for Yeats to be photographed by Boughton probably on 22 December 1903. On 7 January 1904, Quinn wrote to her thanking her for two solio prints and two platinum prints, telling her that 'Yeats received the three photographs which you sent him and was charmed by them.' Quinn particularly liked one of Yeats reading a book, which was published in Florence Brooks's article in the New York Herald on 17 January 1904; another image, was published in the Gaelic American on 5 March 1904.