Henry Lamb, R.A. (1883-1960)

The present work, also known as 'The Traveller' was owned by Lady Ottoline Morrell with whom Lamb had a passionate affair and later kept up correspondence for many years. The subject of the painting is unknown, but at the time Morrell inspired Lamb to create allegorical pictures possibly influenced by the Ballet Russes and Picasso. Lamb would have come across Picasso's work when he was in Paris in 1911. 'Ottoline also went to Paris the same year and wrote to Lamb of the Picassos' exhibited at Vollard's. She sent him postcards which he thought 'divine', asking for more, 'particularly Picasso and Greco.' (Exhibition catalogue, Henry Lamb 1883-1960, Manchester, 1984, p. 35).

We are very grateful to Henrietta Phipps for her assistance in cataloguing lots 14-16.