Edward Seago, R.W.S., R.B.A. (1910-1974)

La Spectre de la Rose takes its name from the eponymous ballet that Seago had seen in Monte Carlo, and formed part of an exhibition of ballet pictures that the artist exhibited in New York in 1938. It featured the dancers Serge Lifa and Tamara Toumanova who are depicted in this work.

The picture formerly belonged to John Gregory who was the artist's personal assistant in 1938. He later married the ballet dancer Barbara Vernon, know as Brangwen, whose address, Stanhope Mews South is inscribed on the reverse of the frame. Gregory immortalized his friendship with Edward Seago in Days with Ted, a copy of which is included with this lot, together with a copy of Brangwen, The Poet and the Dancer a story based on the letters from the Poet Laureate John Masefield to Brangwen.