Lot Essay
In 1960 Wilhelmina Barns-Graham inherited from her aunt Mary Neish a family home, Balmungo, situated on the outskirts of St Andrews. Since that moment Barns-Graham divided her time equally between there and her home in St Ives, Barnaloft, simultaneously establishing her as much a Scottish as a Cornish artist. Latterly, Barns-Graham wished that Balmungo would become the centre for her charitable trust.
The present owner comments 'I walked into the studio at Balmungo one evening to find Willie working on that very work [the present work] and quite involuntarily exclaimed how truly vibrant and representative of the Autumn colours it was, Willie simply said very quietly how happy she was that I liked it, and gave it to me' (private correspondence).
The present owner comments 'I walked into the studio at Balmungo one evening to find Willie working on that very work [the present work] and quite involuntarily exclaimed how truly vibrant and representative of the Autumn colours it was, Willie simply said very quietly how happy she was that I liked it, and gave it to me' (private correspondence).