- 175
John Butler Yeats
Estimate
6,000 - 8,000 GBP
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Description
- John Butler Yeats
- Jack and Cottie Yeats by the Fireplace, Snails Castle, Devon
- watercolour
- 26 by 35.5cm., 10¼ by 14in.
together with a watercolour of the dining room at Snails Castle by John Butler Yeats inscribed and dated l.l.: Snails Castle/ July/ 1900, and another of the sitting room by an unknown hand
Condition
'Jack and Cottie Yeats by the Fireplace':
The sheet is sound, cockles slightly and does not appear to be laid down. Possibly slightly discoloured. Very faint horizontal hairline abrasion by Cottie's head, only visible upon very close inspection; otherwise appears in good overall condition.
Held under glass in a gilt plaster frame; unexamined out of frame.
Two other watercolours:
Both laid down, slightly discoloured. The dining room work bears a few light scratches in upper right corner otherwise both appear sound overall. One held in dark mount.
"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
Snails Castle was the nickname given by Jack to his house in Strete, near Dartmouth, South Devon, which he moved to with Cottie in 1896. It was so-called because on moving to the house it was infested with snails, and Jack delighted in depicting it as a tower on a snail's back. In time the name was replaced with its Irish translation, Cashlauna Shelmiddy (Caisleán Seilmide).
John Butler Yeats described what life was like there in a letter to Rosa Butt in 1900, the spirit of which is captured in the present work: 'I have had a radiant fortnight with Jack and his wife. They are so quietly happy and busy. Each in their own way that one asks oneself is it possible that any kind of trouble should ever find them out.' (quoted in Pyle, Yeats: Portrait of an Artistic Family, 1997, p.26).