Hindquarters of a whippet

Pencil study

Signed lower right

23.5 x 37.5 cm

Provenance:

With Reynolds Fine Art, Essex

Christie’s, Modern British Pictures, 16th May 1996, Lot 50

£750

This study is comparable with John’s full portrayal of a whippet in the collection of the Cooper Gallery, Barnsley. The sometimes irascible artist was known for tearing works on paper into quarters, in precisely the present manner, which were often rescued by those who recognised his undeniable talent.

Over forty such drawings belonged to the family of Dame Elizabeth Taylor, whose father Francis acted as John’s American agent for many years. Like the present example, the drawings were all torn up by John in a fit of madness. However, in an apologetic letter of 1939, the artist wrote that Francis had pieced them all back together again.