Jack Butler Yeats, R.H.A. (1871-1957)

Hilary Pyle writes, ‘Bright lights are reflected in the sky, below the clouds, coming from two towns in the distance. On a road leading to the two towns walks a man dressed in rags. Another ragged man leans against a house, his hands in his trouser pockets, facing away from the towns. ‘The artist told the owner that “as a young man he was living somewhere in England with his father. Just after dark one night he walked outside and saw lights in the distance. Hailing a policeman he enquired what the lights were and was told, ‘them is the lights of towns, sir’”. Long years after he painted the scene from memory (Dr. F. J. McGrath to author, 24 March 1967)’ (H. Pyle, op.cit., p. 738).