Pavel Tchelitchew (1898-1957)

On the basis of the dedication to 'Peter' and a similarity to Tchelitchew's portrait of Peter Watson in blue armour, it has been suggested that the work may represent Peter Watson (b. 1908) who died in his bath under mysterious circumstances in 1956. The younger son of Sir George Watson, he was educated at Eton and Oxford. A discriminating supporter of young artists such as Salvador Dali, Lucien Freud and Francis Bacon, he was a founding member of the Institute of Contemporary Arts in London.
On close inspection of the present lot, images of human heads, clowns and animals may be seen to metamorphose from the costume.