Helen Layfield Bradley (1900-1979)
Lot 156

Helen Layfield Bradley (1900-1979)

Armistice Day, 11th November 1918

Closed20 November 2014

Price Realised

GBP 68,500

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Helen Layfield Bradley (1900-1979)
Armistice Day, 11th November 1918
signed 'HELEN BRADLEY' and with a fly (lower left), inscribed 'It was a rather warm November day/when I set off to book my orders, and I'd/got as far as Miles Platting when there's a bang/so loud I thought a Zepp had dropped a bomb. I/went out of my customer's shop to see what happened/-Goodness, everyone was dashing about, a Tram went past/laden with people. They were all going home. Everyone/was rushing home - why! Then I saw a Union Jack/- just a small one being pushed out of a bedroom window,/then a large one being fastened to the railway bridge. Then the/noise of great joy began. All the mill hooters went off and the/Church Bells rang out. "The War's over" everyone cried. It/was hard to believe, however, I decided to pack up and go/home, but I had great difficulty in getting on a tram, which/I managed with the help of a man. It was a day we shall/never forget. The 11th November. 1918.' (on a label attached to the reverse)
oil on canvas-board
20¾ x 28¾ in. (52.7 x 73 cm.)
This work is recorded by the artist's studio as no. 5A.

Anonymous sale; Christie's, London, 14 November 1986, lot 189, where purchased by the present owner's husband.