Hanover Gallery, London
Antiquariato G. Cesarano, Bergamo
Galleria Lorenzelli, Bergamo
Acquired by the present owner in 1995

Hannover, Kestner Gesellschaft, William Scott, 2nd June 1960 - 5th February 1961, cat. no.66 (as Untitled), with tour to Museum am Ostwall, Dortmund; and Stadtische Galerie, Munich;
Bergamo, Galleria Lorenzelli, W. Scott, February 1978 (details untraced).

John Russell, 'William Scott. Developments in Style III', in London Magazine, Vol. 1, no. 3, June 1961, unpaginated, illustrated;
Norbert Lynton, William Scott, Thames & Hudson, London, 2004, cat. no.154, illustrated p.253;
Sarah Whitfield (ed.), William Scott, Catalogue Raisonné of Oil Paintings, Vol. 3, 1960-1968, Catalogue Numbers 428-656, Thames & Hudson in association with the William Scott Foundation, London, 2013, cat. no.439, illustrated p.42.

The canvas is original. There are a number of areas of craquelure across the canvas. There is some slight undulation to the canvas in places. There is some reticulation in the brown pigment, and also in the blue pigment the upper section of the central passage in one or two other places. There are some losses to the thicker areas of impasto, in particular to the upper left quadrant, and there are some tiny flecks of loss elsewhere, notably at the edges and extreme corners. There is also some flattening to the impasto. There is some surface dirt and dust throughout. Subject to the above the work appears to be in good overall condition. Inspection under ultra violet light reveals an inconsistent varnish throughout, in particular in the lower left corner. The work is float mounted and held in a painted wooden frame. Please telephone the department on +44 (0) 207 293 6424 if you have any questions regarding the present work.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

We are grateful to the William Scott Foundation for their kind assistance with the cataloguing of the present work.

‘I am an abstract artist in the sense that I abstract. I cannot be called non-figurative while I am still interested in the modern magic of space, primitive sex forms, the sensual and erotic, disconcerting contours, the things of life.’  (William Scott, ‘Artist’s Statement’, published in Lawrence Alloway (ed.), Nine Abstract Artists: Their Work and Theory, Alec Tiranti Ltd., London, 1954, p.37.)