Sir William Nicholson

Sale, Sotheby's London, 3 December 2003, lot 15, where acquired by the present owner

The board is in good overall condition. There are a few tiny spots of craquelure in the thicker paint in the upper left quadrant. There are also a few minor abrasions and tiny spots of paint loss along the lower edge. Examination under ultra-violet light reveals scattered tiny flecks of retouching across the paint surface. Held behind glass in a gilded composition frame. Please telephone the department on 020 7293 5381 if you have any questions regarding the present work.
"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."

Nicholson regularly painted scenes along the length of the South Downs, which seems the most likely setting for Meadows. The current work is not clearly identifiable in Lillian Browse's catalogue raisonné although it could be one of several. The most probable appear to be either no.357, which is in fact Scottish, or else no.463: Landscape with Cattle in Sunshine (357) was painted in 1933 and is catalogued: 'oil on canvas, 13 by 16ins., signature not visible, owned by Mrs V. Hamilton; painted in Ayr in early summer; three cows - or calves - are in a green field; behind them, a thick screen of trees'; Cattle at Arundel (463) was painted in 1935, size and signature unknown and is listed as formerly in the possession of Mrs Nancy Bridgeman.

We are grateful to Patricia Reed for her kind assistance with the cataloguing of the present work.