Walter Richard Sickert

Sale, Christie's London, 11th May 1973, lot 93
Kevin Coates Esq from whom acquired by the present owner circa 1974

London, Leicester Galleries, Recent Paintings by Richard Sickert, April - May 1940, cat. no.9.

Wendy Baron, Sickert Paintings and Drawings, Yale University Press, New Haven and London, 2006, cat. no.679, p.518.

Original canvas. There is a small area of paint loss along the upper left edge, otherwise the work appears in good overall condition. Under ultraviolet light there appear to be no signs of retouching. Held in a gilt plaster frame. Please telephone the department on 0207 293 6424 if you have any questions about 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."

Harriet Wilson was a famous courtesan in Regency London to whom the Duke of Wellington made the historic response, 'Publish and be damned!' when she threatened to publish his letters to her. There is a squared-up photograph of the black and white print from which this Echo was derived, which is in the Islington Sickert Collection (see Wendy Baron, op. cit., 2006, p.518)

We are grateful to Dr Wendy Baron for her kind assistance with the cataloguing of the present work.