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Lot Essay
In 1965 Kyffin Williams visited Holland with a party organised by Godfrey Pilkington, the owner of the Piccadilly Gallery in London, who had hired two motor cruisers to explore the canals of Holland. The two boats were named Gratje and Gretje.
The party met with a number of boating misfortunes with the greatest one befalling them at Monikendam. Williams recounts, 'The next misfortune descended upon us as we approached the town of Monikendam, when I was at the wheel of the Gretje. Godfrey, in the lead, sounded his hooter to notify an official that we wished to pass under his massive iron swing-bridge. It opened and Gratje passed through. I was about to do likewise when I saw the great iron structure swinging back to its original position. I put my engine into reverse but to no avail.... At the moment of impact I threw myself to the floor as, with a deafening crash, the superstructure was carried away and deposited in the waters of the canal. Covered in glass and splinters, I lay on the deck of the stricken boat as it drifted helplessly under the darkness of the bridge until it emerged into the daylight to bump gently against the tow-path.' (see K. Williams, A Wider Sky, Llandysul, 1991, pp. 73-74) During the trip Williams completed around fifty watercolours and six oil paintings, 'I had painted on tow-paths, in towns, in fields and had wondered at the glory of the light. I liked Holland. I liked its people, and I decided that some day I would return.' (Ibid p. 76)
The party met with a number of boating misfortunes with the greatest one befalling them at Monikendam. Williams recounts, 'The next misfortune descended upon us as we approached the town of Monikendam, when I was at the wheel of the Gretje. Godfrey, in the lead, sounded his hooter to notify an official that we wished to pass under his massive iron swing-bridge. It opened and Gratje passed through. I was about to do likewise when I saw the great iron structure swinging back to its original position. I put my engine into reverse but to no avail.... At the moment of impact I threw myself to the floor as, with a deafening crash, the superstructure was carried away and deposited in the waters of the canal. Covered in glass and splinters, I lay on the deck of the stricken boat as it drifted helplessly under the darkness of the bridge until it emerged into the daylight to bump gently against the tow-path.' (see K. Williams, A Wider Sky, Llandysul, 1991, pp. 73-74) During the trip Williams completed around fifty watercolours and six oil paintings, 'I had painted on tow-paths, in towns, in fields and had wondered at the glory of the light. I liked Holland. I liked its people, and I decided that some day I would return.' (Ibid p. 76)