Property formerly in the Collection of Sir Thomas Lane Devitt, Bt. (1839-1923)These three works were bought from John Brett (lots 148–150) by Sir Thomas Lane Devitt, Bt. (1839-1923), a shipping magnate and Chairman of Lloyd’s Register of Shipping, who became both a friend and a significant patron of the artist's. In 1916 Devitt was made a Baronet for his services to shipping and for his involvement with a variety of nautical charities and institutions. He was a great patron and collector, and at the sale of his paintings and engravings held in these Rooms in May 1924, the most successful lots included works by Constable, Gainsborough, Lawrence, Landseer, Waterhouse and Lavery. He also commissioned works from contemporary artists for the institutions he was involved with such as the ten paintings depicting the London docks from Frank Brangwyn for Lloyd’s Register of Shipping (1908-14) and Brangwyn’s Modern Commerce (1906) for the Royal Exchange. In 1904 his portrait was painted by John Singer Sargent (private collection) and in 1918 he presented Brett’s Echoes of a far-off storm (1890) to the Guildhall Art Gallery, London.

John Brett, A.R.A. (1831-1902)

Kennack

Details

John Brett, A.R.A. (1831-1902)
Kennack
inscribed and dated 'Kennack Aug 29. 77' (lower left)
oil on canvas
10 x 19 in. (25.4 x 48.3 cm.)

Provenance

Bought from the artist by Sir Thomas Devitt, Bt., for £60.
Sir Thomas Devitt, Bt. (†); Christie's, London, 16 May 1924, one of two in lot 52, as ‘Lennack’ [sic] (28 gns to Leggatt Bros.).
Howson Devitt, and by descent in the family to the present owner.

Literature

C. Payne and C. Brett, John Brett: Pre-Raphaelite Landscape Painter, New Haven and London, 2010, p. 221, no. 811.

Exhibited

London, Whitechapel Gallery, 1882, no. 7.
London, Whitechapel Gallery, 1902, no. 198.
Penzance, Penlee House Gallery, John Brett: A Pre-Raphaelite in Cornwall, April - June 2006, no. 33.

Brought to you by

Clare Keiller

ckeiller@christies.com +44 (0)20 7389 2729

Lot Essay

This work was painted at the sandy beach at Kennack, on the north-east side of the Lizard Peninsular, Cornwall. A favourite sketching ground for the artist, he painted no fewer than ten works there between 1876 and 1877.

We are grateful to Charles Brett for his help in preparing this catalogue entry.

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