George Russell, called AE

The canvas has been relined. There are very faint stretcher bar marks about the edges, and a few fine minor lines of craquelure to isolated areas across the surface, notably in the bottom right corner, which are only visible upon close inspection. Otherwise the surface is in good overall condition, clean and ready to hang. Ultraviolet light reveals a few small specks of retouching to the hills, sky and tree spirit. Held in a metallic painted wood frame. Please telephone the department on 020 7293 5575 if you have any questions regarding the present work.
"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.
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Russell's talents were extraordinarily wide-ranging. Literary historians consider him primarily a poet and he was a central figure of the Irish literary revival. As the present lots demonstrate, he was also an extremely accomplished artist.

Born in Lurgan Co. Armagh, Russell went to evening classes at the Dublin Metropolitan School of Art, where he studied for two months in 1880 and resumed his studies in 1883, later followed by evening classes at the Royal Hibernian Academy. During the years at the School of Art he befriended George Moore and W.B. Yeats who encouraged him to write to introduce him to Theosophical Society, which prompted Russell to join the famous Dublin Theosophists' community at 3 Upper Ely Place, known as the Household.

The Theosophist ideas had a deep impact on the painter throughout his life. In fact, Russell's artistic name A.E. was the result of an accident, a blunder of a Dublin newspaper's de plume, 'Aeon,' which accompanied one of his verses. The mysterious, dispersed light and anonymous figures that are characteristic of him luminous landscapes provide an insight into the artist's mystical visions of otherworldly, cosmic and supernatural beings.