Augustus John, O.M., R.A. (1878-1961)

Augustus John and his wife, Dorelia, travelled to Cornwall in 1914. During their stay John visited the artist Laura Knight and painted the current painting. She recalled John's working method, 'out he would go in search of Dorelia, and do little sketches of her in various poses on the rocks: 'He never did anything better' (M. Holroyd, Augustus John, London, 1996, p. 400). In these paintings Dorelia is pregnant with the couple's youngest daughter Vivian, who was born in March 1915.
The painting was given by the artist to the painter, John Wheatley, R.A.A., R.W.S. (1892-1955) whose long friendship with John had begun in Cornwall in 1914. Wheatley was a friend of the painter Laura Knight and a frequent visitor to Cornwall.