Live Auction 778920th Century British And Irish Art
Christie’s roundel
Lot 110

William Scott, R.A. (1913-1989)

Sober Brown

Closed12 November 2009

Price Realised

GBP 44,450

Considering selling a similar item?

Discover its value with a complimentary estimate from our specialists.

More Information

How to sell

William Scott, R.A. (1913-1989)
Sober Brown
signed and dated 'W. SCOTT 1973' (on the reverse)
oil on canvas
24 x 24 in. (61 x 61 cm.)
This work is recorded in the William Scott Archive as No. 1141 and will be included in the forthcoming Catalogue Raisonné of works in oil.

with Gimpel Fils, London, where purchased by the present owner in May 1979.

Specialist note

The present work was illustrated in Studio International in December 1974 which coincided with the Gimpel and Hanover Gallery exhibition in Zürich. In discussion with Tony Rothon, Scott said of his pictures of this period 'Although my paintings are flat, I want to achieve an illusion of space within. You see, I want to have the feeling that you enter the painting and then spread out' (op. cit, p. 230). The shape of the white bowl on the right suggests that it is being viewed from above, but the pan is seen in side profile. This play on the three-dimensionality of the objects supports Scott's idea of moving around within the image and seeing the objects from different points-of-view.