Laura Knight: A Private Collection

Laura Knight: A Private Collection

Laura Knight: A Private Collection 6 - 26 May 2016

The Fine Art Society 148 New Bond Street • London W1S 2JT +44 (0)20 7629 5116 • www.faslondon.com For sales enquiries please contact Robert Upstone at ru@faslondon.com

1. Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, 1937 Litographic poster 28 5/8 x 19 3/4 inches • 72.7 x 50.2 cm

Laura Kinght: A Private Collection includes a collection of 28 etchings and aquatints by acclaimed British artist, Laura Knight, which have been held in private hands since being purchased in the 1970’s. Created between 1922 and 1936, the works vividly depict the intimate and private world of women, and the life of the ballet and theatre, recurring themes that informed Knight’s work during these years.

Laura Knight (1877-1970) was one of the most highly regarded female artists of her generation. From humble beginnings, she forged a successful career - she was the first female artist to be made a Dame of the British Empire (1929) and the first woman to be elected as a Royal Academician (1936) since its foundation in 1768.

She travelled with the circus and ballet in the 1920s and 1930s and immortalised the lives of these bohemian circles in a period of great conformity. Her art was popular, insightful, intimate and brilliant. Her technical abilities - in whatever medium – mixed sparkling innovation with academic rigour.

Just over a hundred years since The Fine Art Society held its first exhibition of Laura Knight’s work, the exhibition also comprises of a small group of drawings and a large-scale allegorical oil, ‘Early Morning at a Gypsy Camp’ exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1953 and unseen since Laura Knight’s Academy retrospective in 1965 (the first time a living RA had been given such an honour).

CATALOGUE NOTE Print references are to the standard catalogue raisonné, G. Fredric Bolling and Valerie A. Withington, The Graphic Work of Laura Knight, London, 1993

2. A Chorus, 1923

Etching and aquatint, signed in pencil Laura Knight, lower right, and inscribed by the artist with self-print, lower margin, printed in black ink on laid paper: from the edition of 55 6 3/4 x 9 13/16 inches • 17.1 x 24.9 cm; sheet 8 x 13 inches • 20.3 x 33 cm Reference: Bolling and Withington no.12

3. Putting on Tights, 1926

Etching, signed in pencil Laura Knight, lower right, and inscribed by the artist with title and 55 proofs in edition, lower margin, printed in black ink on laid paper: from the edition of 55 8 x 6 7/8 inches • 20.2 x 17.5 cm; sheet 15 1/4 x 10 1/8 inches • 39.4 x 25.8 cm Reference: Bolling and Withington no.56

4. Make-up, 1925

Etching and drypoint, signed in pencil Laura Knight, lower right, and inscribed by the artist with title and 8 state, lower margin, printed in black ink on laid paper: numbered 8 from the edition of 18 9 13/16 x 7 3/4 inches • 24.9 x 19.7 cm; sheet 18 1/4 x 12 1/4 inches • 46.4 x 31.1 cm Reference: Bolling and Withington no.33

5. The Lipstick, 1925

Etching and engraving, signed in pencil Laura Knight, lower right, and inscribed by the artist with title and 20 proof, lower margin, printed in black ink on laid paper: from the edition of 20 9 5/8 x 7 3/4 inches • 24.4 x 19.7 cm; sheet 15 3/8 x 10 inches • 39 x 25.4 cm Reference: Bolling and Withington no.34

6. Gilding the Lily, 1926

Soft ground etching and drypoint, signed in pencil Laura Knight, lower right, and inscribed by the artist with proof 1st state, lower margin, printed in black ink on laid paper: from the edition of 35 11 5/8 x 7 1/2 inches • 29.5 x 19 cm; sheet 15 1/4 x 10 1/8 inches • 38.7 x 25.7 cm Reference: Bolling and Withington no.47

7. Bank Holiday, 1923

Etching and aquatint, signed in pencil Laura Knight, lower right, and inscribed by the artist with title and 55 edition, lower margin, printed in black ink on laid paper: from the edition of 55 10 3/8 x 8 1/4 inches • 26.4 x 21 cm; sheet 18 1/4 x 11 1/2 inches • 46.4 x 29.2 cm Reference: Bolling and Withington no.25

8. Dancing on Hampstead Heath, 1923

Etching and aquatint, signed in pencil Laura Knight, lower right, and inscribed by the artist with title and 55 copies, lower margin, printed in black ink on laid paper: from the edition of 55 10 3/4 x 7 3/4 inches • 27.3 x 19.7 cm; sheet 18 1/4 x 11 1/8 inches • 46.4 x 28.3 cm Reference: Bolling and Withington no.10

9. A Crowd, 1923

Etching and aquatint, signed in pencil Laura Knight, lower right, and inscribed by the artist with title and 55 proofs in edition, lower margin, printed in black ink on laid paper: from the edition of 55 4 x 5 inches • 10.2 x 12.7 cm; sheet 7 3/4 x 10 5/8 inches • 19.7 x 27 cm Reference: Bolling and Withington no.3

10. At The Folies Bergère, 1923

Aquatint and drypoint, signed in pencil Laura Knight, lower right, and inscribed by the artist with artist proof C in second printing, lower margin, printed in black ink on laid paper: from the edition of 55 8 7/8 x 6 7/8 inches • 22.5 x 17.5 cm; sheet 18 x 11 1/2 inches • 45.7 x 29.2 cm Reference: Bolling and Withington no.7

11. Dancer Resting, 1923

Etching and aquatint, signed in pencil Laura Knight, lower right, and inscribed by the artist with artist proof, lower margin, printed in black ink on laid paper: from the edition of 55 7 x 4 15/16 inches • 17.8 x 12.5 cm; sheet 15 1/2 x 10 1/4 inches • 39.4 x 26 cm Reference: Bolling and Withington no.24

12. At The Footlights, 1923

Etching and aquatint, signed in pencil Laura Knight, lower right, and inscribed by the artist with D in second state, lower margin, printed in black ink on laid paper: from the edition of 80 7 3/4 x 5 7/8 inches • 19.7 x 14.9 cm; sheet 13 1/4 x 9 inches • 33.7 x 22.9 cm Reference: Bolling and Withington no.5

13. Pantomime, 1926

Soft ground etching, signed in pencil Laura Knight, lower right, and inscribed by the artist with title and 35 proofs in edition, lower margin, printed in black ink on laid paper: from the edition of 35 13 1/4 x 9 3/4 inches • 33.7 x 24.8 cm; sheet 18 3/8 x 12 1/2 inches • 46.7 x 31.8 cm Reference: Bolling and Withington no.48

14. Spanish Dancer No.2, 1923

Etching and aquatint, signed in pencil Laura Knight, lower right, and inscribed by the artist with title and 55 copies, lower margin, printed in black ink on laid paper: from the edition of 55 10 3/8 x 8 3/8 inches • 26.4 x 21.3 cm; sheet 18 1/4 x 11 inches • 46.4 x 28 cm Reference: Bolling and Withington no.19

15. Grecian Dancer No.1 (Pavlova), 1923

Etching and aquatint, signed in pencil Laura Knight, lower right, printed in black ink on laid paper: from the edition of 55 9 13/16 x 6 7/8 inches • 24.9 x 17.5 cm; sheet 13 1/4 x 10 inches • 33.7 x 25.4 cm Reference: Bolling and Withington no.20

16. Gemini, 1932

Aquatint, signed in pencil Laura Knight, lower right, and inscribed by the artist with title and 50 proofs in edition, lower margin, printed in black ink on laid paper: numbered 4 from the edition of 50 11 7/8 x 9 3/4 inches • 30.2 x 24.8 cm; sheet 18 1/4 x 12 1/4 inches • 46.4 x 31.1 cm Reference: Bolling and Withington no.69

17. A Southern Blonde, 1928

Mezzotint, signed in pencil Laura Knight, lower right, and inscribed by the artist with title and 1st state, 5th printing, lower margin, printed in black ink on wove paper: from the edition of 75 9 15/16 x 7 7/8 inches • 25.2 x 20 cm; sheet 14 1/2 x 11 inches • 36.8 x 27.9 cm Reference: Bolling and Withington no.63

18. Stella, 1932

Aquatint, signed in pencil Laura Knight, lower right, and inscribed by the artist with title and 50 proofs in edition, lower margin, printed in black ink on laid paper: from the edition of 50 11 13/16 x 9 11/16 inches • 30 x 24.6 cm; sheet 18 1/4 x 12 inches • 46.4 x 30.5 cm Reference: Bolling and Withington no.70

19. Dressing Room No.1, 1923

Etching and aquatint, signed in pencil Laura Knight, lower right, and inscribed by the artist with title and b... print / artist proof, lower margin, printed in black ink on laid paper: from the edition of 55 5 7/8 x 7 13/16 inches • 14.9 x 19.8 cm; sheet 9 1/8 x 13 1/8 inches • 23.2 x 33.3 cm Reference: Bolling and Withington no.4

20. Three Graces of the Ballet, 1926

Soft ground etching, signed in pencil Laura Knight, lower right, printed in black ink on laid paper: from the edition of 30 13 7/8 x 9 3/4 inches • 35.2 x 24.8 cm Reference: Bolling and Withington no.43

21. Vanity, 1932/34

Drypoint, signed in pencil Laura Knight, lower right, and inscribed by the artist with title and 40 proofs in edition, lower margin, printed in black ink on laid paper: from the edition of 40 10 13/16 x 8 13/16 inches • 27.5 x 22.4 cm; sheet 18 3/16 x 11 3/8 inches • 46.2 x 28.9 cm Reference: Bolling and Withington no.76

22. Putting on Rouge, 1925

Soft ground etching, signed in pencil Laura Knight, lower right, and inscribed by the artist with title and 20 proofs in edition, lower margin, printed in black ink on laid paper: from the edition of 20 13 3/6 x 9 11/16 inches • 35.1 x 24.6 cm; sheet 18 1/8 x 12 inches • 46 x 30.5 cm Reference: Bolling and Withington no.36

23. Filia Mundi, 1925 Drypoint and aquatint, signed in pencil Laura Knight, lower right, and inscribed by the artist with title and 30 edition, lower margin, printed in black ink on wove paper: from the edition of 30 11 1/2 x 11 1/2 inches • 29.2 x 29.2 cm; sheet 19 3/4 x 15 3/8 inches • 50.1 x 39 cm Reference: Bolling and Withington no.29

24. Lilian, 1930

Drypoint, signed in pencil Laura Knight, lower right, and inscribed by the artist with title and 50 proofs in edition, lower margin, printed in black ink on laid paper: numbered 16 from the edition of 50 13 3/4 x 9 3/4 inches • 34.9 x 24.8 cm; sheet 18 x 12 1/2 inches • 45.7 x 31.8 cm Reference: Bolling and Withington no.66

25. Susie, 1928

Drypoint, signed in pencil Laura Knight, lower right, and inscribed by the artist with title and 40 proofs in edition, lower margin, printed in black ink on laid paper: numbered 28 from the edition of 40 9 3/4 x 13 3/4 inches • 24.8 x 34.9 cm; sheet 12 3/8 x 18 1/8 inches • 31.4 x 46 cm Reference: Bolling and Withington no.61

26. The Bather, 1928

Drypoint, signed in pencil Laura Knight, lower right, and inscribed by the artist with 2nd state / 2nd printing, lower margin, printed in black ink on laid paper: from the edition of 33 13 3/4 x 9 3/4 inches • 34.9 x 24.8 cm; sheet 18 x 12 1/2 inches • 45.7 x 31.8 cm Reference: Bolling and Withington no.60

27. Bareback Rider, 1935

Etching, signed in pencil Laura Knight, lower right, printed in black ink on laid paper: from the edition of 109 10 x 4 7/8 inches • 25.4 x 12.4 cm; sheet 15 3/4 x 10 3/4 inches • 40 x 27.3 cm Reference: Bolling and Withington no.79

28. Some Clowns, 1930

Drypoint, signed in pencil Laura Knight, lower right, printed in black ink on laid paper: numbered 9 from the edition of 50 13 1/2 x 9 1/2 inches • 34.3 x 24.1 cm Reference: Bolling and Withington no.65

29. A Young Gypsy, 1923

Etching, signed in pencil Laura Knight, lower right, printed in black ink on laid paper: from the edition of 10 5 7/8 x 4 3/8 inches • 15 x 11.1 cm; sheet 12 1/2 x 9 inches • 31.7 x 22.9 cm Reference: Bolling and Withington no.13

30. A Daughter of Israel, 1926

Drypoint, signed in pencil Laura Knight, lower right, and inscribed by the artist with title and artist proof / 50 proofs in edition, lower margin, printed in black ink on laid paper: from the edition of 50 14 x 10 1/4 inches • 35.6 x 26 cm; sheet 18 x 12 inches • 45.7 x 30.5 cm Reference: Bolling and Withington no.42

Drawings

31. Dressing Room, 1924

Charcoal on paper, signed Laura Knight, lower right 14 x 9 7/8 inches • 35.5 x 25 cm Provenance: Private Collection, UK

32. Dita Boa at The London Palladium, 1937

Watercolour, charcoal and coloured chalks, signed Laura Knight, lower left 20 1/4 x 15 3/8 inches • 51.5 x 39 cm Provenance: Private Collection, UK

33. Olympian act, 1938

Charcoal, signed Laura Knight and dated, lower right 10 5/8 x 14 5/8 inches • 27 x 37.2 cm

34. Matador - Danish Horse, 1927

Charcoal, signed Laura Knight and dated, lower right 14 x 10 inches • 35.6 x 25.4 cm

35. Elephant Ride, 1930

Charcoal, signed Laura Knight, lower left 12 x 9 1/2 inches • 30.5 x 24.1 cm

36. The Skater, 1958

Charcoal, gouache and watercolour, signed Laura Knight, lower left 22 x 33 inches • 55.9 x 83.8 cm

Paintings

37. The Curtain Call, 1958

Oil on canvas, signed Laura Knight and dated, lower left 24 x 30 inches • 61 x 76.2 cm Provenance: Mr and Mrs Averill; by descendant Exhibited: London, Royal Academy, 1958, no.574a

38w. Early Morning Camp

at a

Gypsy

Oil on canvas, signed Laura Knight, lower right 38 x 58 inches • 96.5 x 150 cm Provenance: Mr and Mrs Averill; by descendant Exhibited: London, Royal Academy, 1953, no.166; London, Royal Academy, Retrospective Exhibition of the Work of Dame Laura Knight, OM, 1965 Literature: ‘The Royal Academy of 1953: Biblical, Allegorical and Actual Scenes’, The Illustrated London News, 2 May 1953, p. 690 (illustrated); Royal Academy Illustrated, 1953; GS Whittet, ‘The Royal Academy’, The Studio, vol 146, 1953, p. 41; Dame Laura Knight DBE, The Magic of a Line, the Autobiogra-

Published online by The Fine Art Society for the exhibition Laura Knight: A Private Collection held at 148 New Bond Street, London, from 6 to 26 May 2016 Catalogue © The Fine Art Society Designed by Sara Terzi Front cover: Laura Knight, Dancer Resting, 1923 [no.11] Back cover: Laura Knight, Lilian, 1930 [no.24]

The Fine Art Society 148 New Bond Street • London W1S 2JT +44 (0)20 7629 5116 • www.faslondon.com