About this lot

Description

§ Augustus John OM, RA (British 1878-1961)
Standing female nude charcoal on paper 40 x 25cm

Footnote: Provenance: Francis Taylor (1897-1968), and thence by descent to his daughter, Dame Elizabeth Taylor (1932-2011) Sale; Chiswick, London, 28 September, 2010, where acquired by the present owner The present lot is accompanied by a copy of letter, dated September 1939, in which Augustus John explains how, in a “fit of madness” he tore up several of his “beloved” drawings, all of which were salvaged by Francis Taylor, an art dealer and the father of Elizabeth Taylor. Operating out of his Bond Street gallery, Frank, or Francis, established a close relationship with John during the 1930s. During the war, the Taylors relocated to California, though Francis and Augustus John remained in close contact with one another, with Taylor acting as John’s agent for the American market. A facsimile letter from Liz Taylor, also accompanying the lot and dated August 2010, further explains how Francis had to persuade John to allow him to repair the drawings, which then remained in the possession of the Taylor family for more than seventy years.

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