LAVERY (Sir John, 1856-1941, Irish Artist, one of the ‘Glasgow Boys’)

Fine Autograph Letter Signed to “My dear Lane” thanking him for “sending my picture to Agnews and having a new glass put over it; thank you very much. But now really! don’t you know! quite the contrary! why I am lost in admiration at the herculean task you have undertaken and have been thinking only of nice things to say to you and of how I can in any way be of service. So I repeat that my pictures are at your disposition to hang one or more as you please my only condition is that it or they may be well shown. The nearest I can get to ‘Spring’ is the small ‘Summer’ which you will receive shortly after this note, although I add to the number I would prefer to be represented by few rather than by many. quantity in. the eyes of the people does not always mean quality...” 1 side 4to., 5 Cromwell Place headed paper, 15th May

In August 1917 he was commissioned to depict aspects of the war in Britain, but he hated war and regarded his efforts as totally uninspired. His most memorable painting depicts the forecabin of HMS Queen Elizabeth with Admiral Beatty reading the terms of the surrender of the German navy. He was knighted in 1918. He was elected president of the Belfast Art Society in 1919 and served for five years, exhibiting and attending exhibitions.

Item Date:  1904

Stock No:  42485