Set of Three Antique Watercolour Drawings by John Austen
£1,200
A set of three original watercolour drawings by John Austen, being the finished drawings for illustrations included in the 1927 publication of The Gods Are Athirst by Anatole France.; showing three exterior scenes with figures in early 19th century dress, presented in distressed, silver-gilt frames; sold with an illustrated copy of The Gods Are Athirst and a copy of the Sotheby’s 1975 sale catalogue in which they were included (and wrongly designated as possibly illustrations for Disraeli’s The Infernal Marriage)
John Archibald Austen (1886-1948) was born in Hythe in Kent and, by 1921, was a member of the Society of British Artists. Often using his wife, Ruby, as a model, much of his early work was strongly influenced by Aubrey Beardsley, but in 1925 he came under the spell of the Art Deco movement, and his style of drawing radically changed to reflect this new influence. The 1920s was his heyday and he was a prolific and successful illustrator for most of the decade.
Provenance: Sotheby’s London, 12th March 1975, lot 1006
