- 11
John Craxton, R.A.
Estimate
6,000 - 8,000 GBP
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Description
- John Craxton, R.A.
- Cats Playing
- signed and dated November.13.55-
- pencil and charcoal on paper
- 34 by 49.5cm.; 13¼ by 19½in.
Provenance
Acquired directly from the Artist by the family of the present owner, and thence by descent
Condition
The sheet is not laid down, but is adhered to a support card along the upper edge.
There are a few extremely minor handling marks visible to the sheet, upon very close inspection. There are one or two very minor traces of light surface dirt and studio detritus to the sheet, and a spot of very light foxing in the bottom left corner. There is some extremely minor discolouration to the sheet. This excepting the work appears in excellent overall condition, with strong, fresh passages of pencil throughout.
There is a study of a female nude visible to the reverse of the sheet.
Housed behind glass in a thick gilt wooden frame, set within a card mount.
Please contact the department on +44 (0) 207 293 6424 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.
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."
"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
We are grateful to Ian Collins for his kind assistance with the cataloguing of the present work and preparing the below note:
This is a study for a picture John Craxton produced in the mid-1950s as a gift for his close friend, the photographer Joan Eyres Monsell. They often stayed at the house of the painter Niko Ghika on Hydra, and shared a love of the Greek world - and of cats everywhere. When Joan and Patrick Leigh Fermor built their glorious house at Kardamyli, in the Peloponnese, Joan adopted a feline pack deemed by Paddy to be "interior desecrators and downholsterers".