John Quinn (1870-1924) was one of America's foremost patrons of modern art and one of the most important collectors of the first half of the 20th Century. He amassed a vast collection of American and European avant-garde works from 1911 until his death at the age of fifty-four. His collection contained more than fifty paintings by Pablo Picasso and as many by Matisse, Derain, Rouault, as well as post-impressionists works by Cezanne, Van Gogh, Gaughin and Seurat. His collection contained over 2,000 paintings, sculptures, drawings and prints by 151 modern artists.

As the son of Irish emigrants, Quinn's support of Irish nationalism led to his patronage of the artist and poet George Russell (AE) and the Yeats family. A close friendship grew out of this and when his immediate family died in close succession, he began to travel to England and France on a frequent basis. He also began corresponding with European dealers and his interest in contemporary European art grew from this. In 1909, he met Augustus John and so admired his work that he offered him an annual retainer for an unspecified number of paintings. It was John who persuaded him to buy from his circle of friends, Spencer Frederick Gore (see lot 57), Derwent Lees, J.D. Innes and his sister, Gwen John. Quinn also sought the advise of William Marchant at the Goupil Gallery and Jack Knewstub at the Chenil Gallery.
John admired David Bomberg's work and recommended that Quinn buy from his 1914 show at the Chenil Gallery. On his death, Quinn had the present work and a drawing from 1913, 'Head of a Poet' still in his collection.
(See J. Zilczer, The Noble Buyer: John Quinn Patron of the Avant-Garde, Washington D.C., 1978, p.15-21)