Augustus John, OM, RA, (1878-1961)   "Portrait of A Young ...

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€3,000 - €5,000

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Augustus John, OM, RA, (1878-1961)  

"Portrait of A Young Woman c. 1905,"  pencil on paper - 32 x 24 cms (12 ½“ x 9½“).

Sketched with Augustus John’s customary bravura and flair, but also brilliantly controlled, this portrait in pencil depicts the head of a young woman, her wavy hair tied back. Through line and shade, sometimes pressing the point of the pencil against the paper, other times laying it sideways to create areas of shade, John has differentiated between the softness of the woman’s skin and the individual strands of her hair. The woman’s expression of slight haughtiness, or aloofness, is common to many of John’s portraits. His depictions of people, whether in pencil or oil paint are complex, often both idealised and down-to-earth, in a manner reminiscent of Rembrandt. The woman in this sketch may be his second wife Dorelia (Dorothy McNeill) and judging by its style is a relatively early work in his career. 

Born in Tenby, Wales in 1878, Augustus John studied art at the Slade School in London where his teacher was Henry Tonks. His sister Gwen, who also studied at the Slade, became a well-known painter in her own right. Even as a student, John was considered the most brilliant draughtman of his time, and his portrait sketches and oil portraits, particularly of his family, are among his most highly-regarded works. He spent some time in Paris, then in 1901 took a teaching job at the University of Liverpool to support his growing family, which consisted of his wife the artist Ida Nettleship, his model (and lover) Dorelia McNeill, and several children. For a time the entourage lived and travelled in a gypsy caravan. Between 1910 and 1928, he had a house at Martigues in Provence. During WWI, John was commissioned as an official war artist, but a planned monumental canvas depicting Canadian soldiers remained uncompleted. During the 1920’s he became one of Britain’s leading portrait painters; among his sitters were T. E. Lawrence, Lady Gregory, Dylan Thomas and W. B. Yeats. He was a frequent visitor to Ireland during these years.

Provenance: Originally owned by Lady Yarrow (née Eleanor Barnes) a leading promoter of the Arts and Crafts Revival, this drawing was gifted to the McDonnell family of Dalguise in Monkstown, Co. Dublin.

Dr. Peter Murray, 2022

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Auction Date: 23rd Mar 2022 at 2:30pm

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Sale Dates:
23rd Mar 2022 2:30pm (Lots 1 to 235)