JOHN BRATBY, R.A. | Backyard with House and Rubbish

Beaux Arts, London
Fine Art Society, London
Stanley J. Seeger
His sale, Sotheby's London, 5th March 2014, lot 964, where acquired by the present owner

London, Beaux Arts Gallery, John Bratby, September - October 1957, cat. no.7;
Manchester, Whitworth Art Gallery, Paintings by Smith, Davie and Bratby, 25th November - 21st December 1957 (details untraced).

Unexamined out of frame. There work consists of two panels and there is a large seam between them, in keeping with the Artist's materials and working methods. There are a number of losses towards the right edge of the panel, where some of the thicker areas of impasto have come away. There is also some flattening to the heads of some of the impasto tips, in particular one at the upper right of the lower board and one at the right edge of the upper board. There are also some fine cracks in the thicker areas of impasto. There is surface dirt throughout and evidence of studio matter. This excepting the work appears to be in good overall condition. Inspection under ultra violet light reveals no obvious signs of fluorescence or retouching. The work is held behind perspex in a simple, painted wooden frame. Please telephone 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."

We are grateful to Vivienne Roberts for her kind assistance with the cataloguing of the present work.