.jpg?w=1)
Lot Essay
Martigues is a small town in Provence which John and his family visited on a number of occasions between 1910 and 1928, staying at the Villa St. Anne. The 'little railway' to Martigues ran from the station at Pas de Lanciers on Marseilles line.
In his autobiography John recalled how Provence 'had been for years the goal of my dreams'. In 1910 he travelled around the region in search of the ideal place and found it at Martigues: 'With a feeling that I was going to find what I was seeking, an anchorage at last, I returned to Marseilles, and, changing at Pas de Lanciers, took the little railway which leads to Martigues. On arriving my premonition proved correct: there was no need to seek further' (see A. John, Autobiography, London, 1975, p. 120-21).
A slightly smaller version of this subject, painted in 1928, is in the collection of the Tate Gallery, London (see M. Easton and M. Holroyd, The Art of Augustus John, London, 1974, no. 69, pp. 184-5, pl. 69).
In his autobiography John recalled how Provence 'had been for years the goal of my dreams'. In 1910 he travelled around the region in search of the ideal place and found it at Martigues: 'With a feeling that I was going to find what I was seeking, an anchorage at last, I returned to Marseilles, and, changing at Pas de Lanciers, took the little railway which leads to Martigues. On arriving my premonition proved correct: there was no need to seek further' (see A. John, Autobiography, London, 1975, p. 120-21).
A slightly smaller version of this subject, painted in 1928, is in the collection of the Tate Gallery, London (see M. Easton and M. Holroyd, The Art of Augustus John, London, 1974, no. 69, pp. 184-5, pl. 69).