JACK B. YEATS, R.H.A. | A Refusal to Shake Hands

Waddington Galleries, London, where purchased by the late husband of the present owner

Yeats loved the drama of the boxing ring, and the subject featured in numerous watercolours and drawings of his from the late 1890s to early 1900s, under titles such as The Bruiser, Not Pretty but Useful, The End of a Round and To Make a Reputation. Titles were important elements for Yeats, adding potency to the final image. In the present, a defeated boxer slumps in the corner, head turned, refusing the outstretched arm of his opponent while in the background the crowd look on. One can tangibly sense the heat and emotion of the moment.