John Bratby R.A. (1928-1992)

In 1958, Bratby was commissioned to produce large scale paintings for the film The Horses Mouth based on Joyce Cary's novel. Alec Guinness played Gully Jimson an excentric figurative painter and Guinness took inspiration for the role from Bratby. Guinness won Best Actor at the Venice International Film Festival for his role.

The present work is part of a group of paintings associated with the film and the following solo exhibition which was held in New York at The French Gallery on 987 Madison Avenue, Bratby's first in New York.