Robyn Denny

Acquired by the present owner circa 1960

Original canvas. There is very slight undulation to the top left. There is minor surface dirt and studio detritus to the canvas. There are minor frame abrasions and small isolated flecks of resultant loss to the extreme edges, most notably the top and bottom right corners and a further fleck to the extreme right hand edge, just below the black pigment. Craquelure and very minor lifting is apparent to areas of the thicker impasto, including in the top right quadrant and an area in the bottom centre. There is a small area of paint shrinkage to the orange pigment in the centre of the composition. Ultraviolet light reveals a tiny isolated fleck of fluorescence to the edge of the left hand side suggestive of possible retouching, with further isolated areas of fluorescence in keeping with the artist's technique. Housed behind glass in a thin metal frame and set within a cream mount (currently not displayed in frame). Please telephone the department on +44 (0) s207 293 6424 if you have any questions regarding the present lot.
"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."

Robyn Denny worked on a series of small paintings entitled ‘Red Beat’ in the period between leaving the Royal College Of Art and his first solo exhibition at Gimpel Fils gallery in 1958, where the largest of the six-work series, Red Beat 6, sold to  the Albright-Knox Art gallery, Buffalo, his first important museum sale.  The smaller paintings were kept by the artist and only sold at a later date. The title of the series refers to the Beat poets and writers  – Kerouac, Ginsberg etc – who were a key influence for Denny at the time.