Elwin Hawthorne

Alex Reid & Lefevre, London, where bought by Sir David Scott in June 1932 for 14 guineas

STRUCTURE Original canvas. There is a protrusion in the canvas at the very tip of the lower right corner where a small object appears to be wedged between the stretcher and the canvas. PAINT SURFACE There is some light craquelure in the lower right quadrant. Areas of dirt and surface deposits may benefit from a light clean. ULTRAVIOLET UV light reveals no sign of retouching. FRAME Held in a decorative composition frame which has sustained some major losses and abrasions.
"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."

'I hope that those of you who know London will agree with me in thinking that these pictures by Hawthorne give an excellent impression of London atmosphere, away from the West End, of course. The one of the church with its muddy football-ground [lot 212] is, to my mind, the very quintessence of London, and in all the pictures the artist has succeeded in making a commonplace scene interesting.' Sir David Scott

Hawthorne is probably best known for being Walter Sickert's studio assistant, a role he undertook for three years. Yet his interest as a painter lies in his lifelong existence as a Londoner, a city he observed during dramatic changes from his period as a student in Bow in the 1920s to his time serving as an Air Raid warden during the second world war. His pictures of the streets of 1930s London, like the present group, show him to be far from a mere imitator of Sickert. They are painted in a strong style, but with a strong sense of design and composition that lend them a near surreal flavour. The best examples of these works were sold in two highly popular exhibitions that were held by the Lefevre Galleries in 1934 and 1938.

The white building in this picture may be the Marquess Tavern.