John Armstrong, A.R.A.

Private Collection
Their sale, Sotheby's London, 17th March 1976, lot 96, where acquired by the present owner

Possibly Bradford, Cartwright Hall, Bradford Annual Spring Exhibition, 1959, cat. no.261 (as The Companions of Icarus);
London, Royal Academy, John Armstrong, 1893-1973: Exhibition of Paintings, 22nd February - 27th April 1975, cat. no.134, with Arts Council tour to City Museum & Art Gallery, Plymouth, Harris Museum & Art Gallery, Preston, and Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle upon Tyne.

Andrew Lambirth, John Armstrong, The Paintings, Philip Wilson Publishers, London, 2009, cat. no.638, p.217.

The board appears sound. There may be some very tiny specks of loss to the black pigment. There are one or two tiny specks of surface dirt, but subject to the above, the work appears to be in excellent overall condition. Ultraviolet light reveals no obvious signs of fluorescence or retouching. The work is presented in a metallic strip frame with a fabric-covered 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."

We are grateful to Jonathan Gibbs for his kind assistance with the cataloguing of the present work.