AN ENGLISH CUBIST

WILLIAM ROBERTS:

The Bowling Alley + study

Illustration © The Estate of John David Roberts. Reproduced with the permission of the William Roberts Society. Catalogue information based on the catalogue raisonné by David Cleall. For this and full details of the exhibitions cited, see the links below. Any auction prices quoted may not include all fees and taxes, such as VAT and Artist's Resale Right charges.

Skittle Alley, c.1927
Pencil and watercolour, 14 cm x 11.4 cm

A study for The Bowling Alley 1927–8.
In 2012 this watercolour was sold by Christie's South Kensington as French Peasants c.1930, although when it was previously sold by Bonhams Chelsea in 1996 it was entitled Skittle Alley and French Peasants, in the same sale, was a quite different work. The Bonhams titles and sizes correspond to those given when both works were exhibited by Anthony d'Offay in 1969.
PROVENANCE: Bonhams Chelsea 4 July 1996 (estimate £1,200–£1,800) > ? > Christie's South Kensington 14 Dec. 2012 (£7,500)
EXHIBITION HISTORY: Anthony d'Offay Gallery (1) 1969

*

The Bowling Alley, 1927–8
Oil on canvas, 50 cm x 41.3 cm

According to the Tate Gallery 1965 catalogue, this picture was 'inspired by a visit to Germany'– see The Prodigal Sets Out 1927–8.
For more discussion of this picture, see here.
PROVENANCE: Commander and Mrs P. M. Whatley > Sotheby's 14 July 1971 > Hamet Gallery > private collection, USA (March 1973) > Christie's 20 Nov. 2013 (£242,500)
EXHIBITION HISTORY: Hamet Gallery 1973