拍品专文
Bacon's earliest known surviving works date from the year of this watercolour. Ronald Alley lists this work as no.1 in his 1964 catalogue raisonnné. 'Ever since he left home he had been fascinated by reproductions of paintings but his beginning as a painter dates from a visit to a Picasso exhibition in Paris in 1926 at Paul Rosenberg's Gallery... His earliest paintings, in watercolour and gouache, although related to his earlier designs for rugs, and furniture included elements drawn from both late Cubism and Surrealism. (R. Alley, op. cit., p.9). After leaving his native Dublin and following spells in Paris and Berlin he settled in London in the late twenties to make a near living as an interior designer.
Bacon held the second exhibition of his rugs and furniture at the Queensberry Mews Studio in November 1929 and included for the first time some watercolours and gouaches. He also invited Roy de Maistre, who had recently arrived from Australia, to show with him. De Maistre who at one time owned the current work, taught and influenced Bacon on techniques of painting and they formed a lasting friendship.
Bacon held the second exhibition of his rugs and furniture at the Queensberry Mews Studio in November 1929 and included for the first time some watercolours and gouaches. He also invited Roy de Maistre, who had recently arrived from Australia, to show with him. De Maistre who at one time owned the current work, taught and influenced Bacon on techniques of painting and they formed a lasting friendship.