GEORGE KEYT | Lovers

Acquired directly from the artist circa 1945 by Martin Russell Esq.
Sotheby's London, 8 October 1996, lot 28

M. Russell, George Keyt, Marg Publications, 1950, illustrated pl. no. 36

There is light wear, along with several noticeable accretions throughout. Hairline craquelure with associated losses are visible, particularly towards the edges of the painting. There is also minor damage to the paint surface, most notably in the upper right quadrant. This work has never been restored and would benefit from a clean and some consolidation but is in good condition for its age, as viewed.
"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."

Lovers is a classic example of Keyt’s work from the 1930s when Cubism featured more prominently and became an important characteristic of his art. Here we see a luxurious figure study- daringly yet gracefully entwined. Discussing works from this period, art critic L.C. Van Geyzel has articulated “It seems that the demands of the canvas for occupation by colour and line dictated experimentation in forms which of their own accord yield this pattern. The proportions of the two figures are balanced through an inner rhythm …The important consideration here, as in all of George Keyt’s painting, is experiment in form rather than thematic elaboration” (L.C. Van Geyzel, ‘The Paintings of George Keyt, Marg, Volume 1 Number 3, April 1947, https://www.marg-art.org/magazine/volume-1/volume-1-number-3.html). A tasteful synthesis of forms and artistic concepts, Lovers is a study of sensuousness and grace.Collection of Martin Russell Esq. 

Martin Russell is unanimously credited as the foremost patron of Sri Lankan cubism whose tireless efforts towards the propagation of the art form is responsible for its astounding reception and popularity as it stands today. 

Russell was born in to a wealthy business family in England. From his early youth, he was exposed to the visuals arts by his mother, who was a collector of modern art in her own right. In 1937 she is known to have sat for a portrait by Henri Matisse.

Russell was educated at Eton and King's College, Cambridge. In 1940, he was appointed as the private secretary to Duff Cooper, then Minister of Information. He accompanied Cooper to Singapore where they were responsible for reporting on the coordination of the numerous British Government departments in the Far East. Subsequently he was employed by the British Army in Colombo and Kandy from 1942 – 1945. It was in 1942 that he met the Ceylonese photographer and critic Lionel Wendt, and was inspired by the Impressionist and post- Impressionist artists who founded the '43 Group in Ceylon. This collective was a school of modern mid-20th-century painting in Sri Lanka, whose principal contribution was the absorption and adaptation of the modern movement in Europe, and their application of this to their contemporary Sri Lankan experience. One of these artists was of course George Keyt, whom he met at the opening of the inaugural exhibition of the ’43 Group in November 1943:

“At the time I did not quite understand Keyt’s work. Because it was so non-European, but another member of the ‘43 Group, George Classen… pointed out to me that Keyt’s work had a ‘poetic’ quality. The word ‘poetic’ used by Classen has been embedded in my memory since. I bought all the Keyts in the show, except one…” (Y. Dalmia, ‘Martin’s Journey,’ Buddha to Krishna: Life and Times of George Keyt, Routledge, London and New York, 2017, p. 124)

Having discovered this group of artists, Russell began collecting their works extensively. Later in 1943, Russell was transferred to the Allied Land Forces Headquarters at Kondesalle which was close to Amunugama where Keyt lived. The two developed a strong lifelong friendship. Eventually Russell bought his own house near the Keyts which he kept for a long time even after his return to England.

Russell was more than just a collector. A man of great intellect, in his time in Sri Lanka and subsequently India, he gained extensive knowledge about Hindu Iconography. On the request of Dr. Mulk Raj Anand, the editor of the Bombay art magazine Marg, Russell wrote a book on Keyt who was at the time also living in Bombay.  This was released in 1950 and to-date remains the seminal publication on the artist.

In 1953, Russell returned to England and became an investment banker. His love for Sri Lankan art however continued and he sought to promote it in Europe. He was instrumental in organising many exhibitions in London, Oxford, Cambridge and Paris and served as a benefactor to artists such as George Claessen and Ivan Peries when they visited England. In more recent years, in the new millennium, successful sales from Russell’s collection in international auctions helped to launch widespread interest in 20^th- century Sri Lankan Art.