Peter Lanyon

Sheviok Gallery, Cornwall
Sale, Christie's London, 8th June 1990, lot 354, where acquired by the present owner

The sheet is fully laid down to a cream backing card, with unevenly cut, deckled edges throughout. There are pin holes visible to the top and bottom left corners, with two or three very minor, old repaired tears to the extreme top left and far left edge, visible upon close inspection and executed in a very sympathetic manner. There are minor traces of studio detritus, with very minor possible signs of staining to areas of the un-touched sheet, most visible in the bottom left quadrant. Elsewhere there are areas of very minor, fine craquelure, with some very minor signs of loss to the thicker areas of white gouache. This excepting the work appears in good overall condition, with strong, bold colours throughout. Housed behind glass in a thin light wooden frame, set within a cream card mount. Please telephone the department on +44 (0) 207 293 6424 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."

'The abstract painter submits himself entirely to the un-known… he is like a man swinging out into the void; his only props his colours, his shapes and their space-creating powers. Can he construct with these means a barque capable of carrying not only himself to some further shore, but, with the aid of others, a whole flotilla which may be seen, eventually, as having been carrying humanity forward to their unknown destination?'

Roger Hilton, artist’s statement, published in Lawrence Alloway’s Nine Abstract Artists 1954

We are grateful to Martin Lanyon for his kind assistance with the cataloguing of the present work and lot 5.