Auction Date:2012 May 21 @ 18:00 (UTC+1)
Location:Serpentine Hall, RDS, Anglesea Road entrance, Dublin, Dublin, ., Ireland
Sir John Lavery-THE SOKO, TANGIER, 1891
oil on canvassigned and dated lower right
13.75 by 17.25in., 34.925 by 43.815cm.
Orientation of Image: L
Provenance: Sotheby's, 9 May 2007, lot 70;
Whence purchased by the present owner
Exhibited: 'Pictures by John Lavery', Goupil Gallery, London, 1891, no. 4 (see footnote no. 1)
Literature: McConkey, Kenneth, John Lavery, A Painter and his World, Atelier Books, 2010, p.55 (illustrated in colour)
Notes: In June 1891 Lavery held his first London solo exhibition of 35 pictures at the Goupil Gallery in New Bond Street. Of these, at least sixteen were canvases recently painted in Tangier, the majority of which were scenes of the busy market place, the Soko. They were examples, according to The Athenaeum, of 'an extremely clever somewhat feverish and voluptuous sort of Impressionism which is rich in tone and soft, is pale in tint and entirely destitute of … surface finish …' 2. The Saturday Review concurred: Lavery's Tangier paintings were 'coarse in texture and rough in surface …' and although 'cleverly painted', revealed a 'considerable leaning to the Impressionist style'. 3. For many critics, Impressionism, the dreaded foreign import, meant sacrificing fine finish to the exigencies of the moment. An artist-reporter like Lavery was caught up in the shifting scene and his picture would lose its vitality if 'perfected' in the studio after the event.
The 'event', in this case, was of the greatest significance. Although he had spent his student years in Paris and at the artist's colony of Grez-sur-Loing, this was Lavery's first direct contact with the Muslim world. It came after the success of pictures such as The Tennis Party and his residency at the Glasgow International Exhibition of 1888. This had resulted in a commission from the city to paint The State Visit of Queen Victoria ... a work that took two years to complete, and it was only when it received royal approval that in the first week of January 1891, the painter boarded a vessel at Tilbury bound for North Africa.4. Tangier, the 'White City', his destination, came strongly recommended by his Glasgow School friend, Joseph Crawhall, who had been there in 1888, following in the footsteps of Denholm Armour, Alexander Mann and other Scots painters.5. For Lavery it was a life-changing moment; like his predecessors, he was immediately captivated. Although he painted in the Kasbah and on the rooftop of the Continental Hotel, it was the Soko at the eastern gate of the city that claimed most of his attention. He was not alone. Travellers commended this 'big bare area',
... filled with a motley assemblage of Tangierines, [sic] country people and visitors, eddying about various centres of interest - the snake charmer with his dishevelled locks and monotonous drum, the Arab reciter, or the gentleman who sells you half a pint of copper coins for sixpence ... 6.
Yet others went into detail. Here were,
Crouching camels with their loads of dates, chaffering traders, chattering women, sly and servile looking Jews from the city, fierce-eyed heavily armed children of the desert, rough coated horses, lank-sided mules ... the whole enveloped in a blinding, bewildering, choking cloud of such dust as only Africa, "arida nutrix" can produce ...7.
The dry, chalky pigment of the present canvas, perfectly expresses the heat and dust of the Soko. It exposes the untruth of those numerous counterfeit Salon Orientalists whose colourful Arab genre scenes were confections of the studio. Here in the market-place, the colours were drab. Where Snake Charmers (fig 1.) provides a glimpse of wayside theatre, The Soko sweeps the crowded space and looks up to the Kasbah, catching sight of the glistening Straits of Gibraltar beyond.
It was an unforgettable scene to which Lavery would return at regular intervals up until 1920 when this same space was thronged with bystanders as Moroccan troops occupied the German Legation.8. In each of these many instances, Lavery positioned himself on the south-eastern side of the Soko, where, as in the present canvas, the shade from nearby buildings protected him from the sun's glare. Figures, animals, white buildings, picked out in bright light and shade against brilliant blue skies, provided a marquetry of flat shapes that, as Norman Garstin confirmed, charmed the eye of the sketcher.9. Lavery may superficially borrow such effects from the watercolours of Crawhall and Arthur Melville, but he gives them substance in his oil sketches of the Soko.10 John Forbes-White who wrote the introduction to the Goupil exhibition catalogue was particularly enamoured with these swift studies. He wrote that they were 'intensely decorative as well as true … artistic as well as real'
The numerous studies at Tangier show broadly and simply [that] these truths are felt in the glowing sunshine and cool shade of the narrow streets … However slight it may be the work charms from its freshness and sweetness. If it makes a demand on our intelligence and sympathy, it is a demand, the yielding of which, gives a zest to our enjoyment. 11
In 1891, in the dusty marketplace, seen for the first time, the 'impression' contained all the 'charm' and 'freshness' of 'truth'.
Prof. Kenneth McConkey
April 2012
Footnotes:
1. Three of Lavery's Tangier pictures in this show, nos 4, 7 and 13 were general views of the Soko. Of these, no. 4 was simply entitled The Soko - Tangier, while the others were The Little Soko - Tangier and Camels - The Soko respectively. Of these, only the present canvas has come to light.
2. The Athenaeum, 13 June 1891, pp. 772-3.
3. The Saturday Review, 20 June 1891, pp. 742-3.
4. Kenneth McConkey, John Lavery, A Painter and his World, 2010, (Atelier Books), pp. 40-49, 53-4. The State Visit of Queen Victoria to the International Exhibition, Glasgow, 1888, 1890 (Glasgow Museums) was exhibited in Maclean's Gallery in the Haymarket, London.
5. Kenneth McConkey, 'Incongruous Impressions: Scottish Painters' Journeys at the turn of the Twentieth Century', Journal of the Scottish Society for Art History, Vol 14, 2009-10, pp. 78-89.
6. Stanley J Weyman, 'On Muleback in Morocco', English Illustrated Magazine, 1892, p. 614.
7. HD Traill, 'The Pillars of Hercules', in The Picturesque Mediterranean, Its Cities, Shores and Islands, n.d. [c1890], (Cassell and Co), p. 6.
8. McConkey, 2010, p. 147.
9. Norman Garstin, 'Tangier as a Sketching Ground', The Studio, Vol 11, 1897, pp. 177-182.
10. Melville first traveled to the Middle East, visiting Egypt and Persia in 1882 but did not visit southern Spain until 1890 and may not have crossed the Straits until a year later.
11. J F-W, 'Note', Pictures by John Lavery, 1891, (exhibition catalogue, The Goupil Gallery, London), pp.7-8
Auction Location:
Serpentine Hall, RDS, Anglesea Road entrance, Dublin, Dublin, ., Ireland
Previewing Details:
on view 19-21 May, Serpentine Hall, RDS
Buyer's Premiums:
| From (Incl.) | To (Excl.) | Premium |
| 0.00 |
Infinite |
20% |
Additional Fees:
Shipping Details:
No Info Available
Payment Details:
No Info Available
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SALE NOTICE
Whyte & Sons Auctioneers Limited, trading as Whyte’s, exercises all reasonable
care to ensure that all descriptions are reliable and accurate, and that each
item is genuine unless the contrary is indicated. However, the descriptions are
not intended to be, are not and are not to be taken to be, statements of fact
or representations of fact in relation to the lot. They are statements of the
opinion of Whyte’s, and attention is particularly drawn to clause 5 set out
below. Comments and opinions, which may be found in or on lots as labels,
notes, lists, catalogue prices, or any other means of expression, do not
constitute part of lot descriptions and are not to be taken as such unless they
are made or specifically verified by Whyte’s.
Clause 1
(a) Each lot is put up subject to any reserve price imposed by the vendor
(b) Subject to sub-clause (a) of this clause, the highest bidder for each lot shall
be the buyer thereof
(c) If any dispute arises as to the highest bidder the auctioneer shall have
absolute discretion to determine the dispute and may put up again and re-sell
the lot in respect of which the dispute arises
Clause 2
(a) The bidding and advances shall be regulated by and at the absolute
discretion of the auctioneer and he shall have the right to refuse any bid or
bids. NOTE: Where an agent bids, even on behalf of a disclosed client, the
auctioneer nevertheless has the right at his discretion to refuse any such bid.
(b) The buyer of each lot shall immediately on its sale, if required by the
auctioneer, give him the name and address of the buyer and pay to Whyte’s at
his discretion the whole or part of the purchase money. If the buyer of any lot
fails to comply with any such requirement Whyte’s may put up again and resell
the lot; if upon such re-sale a lower price is obtained than was obtained on
the first sale the buyer in default on the first sale shall make good the
difference in price and expenses of re-sale which shall become a debt due from
him.
(c) Where an agent purchases on behalf of an undisclosed client such agent
shall be personally liable for payment of the purchase money to Whyte’s and
for safe delivery of the lot to the said client.
Clause 3
(a) Whyte’s reserves the rights to bid on behalf of clients including vendors,
but shall not be liable for errors or omissions in executing instructions to bid.
(b) Whyte’s reserves the rights, before or during a sale, to group together lots
belonging to the same vendor, to split up and to withdraw any lot or lots at
Whyte’s absolute discretion and without giving any reason in any case.
(c) Whyte’s acts as agent only, and therefore shall not be liable for any default
of the buyer or vendor.
Clause 4
(a) Each lot shall be at the buyer’s risk from the fall of the hammer and shall
be paid for in full before delivery and taken away at his expense within one
day of the sale. The buyer will be responsible for all removal, storage and
insurance charges in respect of any lot which has not been collected within
one day of the date of sale.
(b) If any buyer fails to pay in full for any lot within 14 days of the date of
sale such lot may at any time thereafter at Whyte’s discretion be put up for
sale by auction again or sold privately; if upon such re-sale a lower price is
obtained than was obtained on the first sale the buyer in default on the first
sale shall make good the difference in price and the expenses of re-sale which
shall become debt due from him.
(c) Interest at 2 per cent per month and legal costs (if any) for recovery of
monies due shall be payable by the buyer on any overdue account.
Clause 5
(a) All lots are made available for inspection before each sale and each buyer,
by making a bid, acknowledges that he has satisfied himself as to the physical
condition, age and catalogue description of each lot (including but not
restricted to whether the lot is damaged or has been repaired or restored).
(b) All lots are sold with all faults and imperfections and errors of description
and Whyte’s and its employees, servants or agents shall not be responsible for
any error of description or for the condition or authenticity of any lot, save for
Clause 5 (c) below.
Written or verbal condition reports may be supplied by Whyte’s on request but
these are merely statements of opinion, and any error or omission in these
reports may not be taken as grounds for a cancellation of sale or refund of any
part of the purchase price or the cost of any repairs to the lot or lots reported
on
(c) If any lot sold at this auction is subsequently proved to be a “deliberate
forgery”, Whyte’s will cancel the sale and refund to the buyer the total amount paid by the buyer for the item, in the currency of the original sale. The onus of
proving a lot to be a “deliberate forgery” is on the buyer. For these purposes,
“deliberate forgery” means a lot that in Whyte’s reasonable opinion is an
imitation created to deceive as to authorship, where the correct description of
such authorship is not reflected by the description in the catalogue (taking
into account any Glossary of Terms). No lot shall be considered a deliberate
forgery by reason only of any damage and/or restoration and/or modification
work of any kind (including repainting or overpainting).This guarantee does not
apply if (i) either the catalogue description was in accordance with the
generally accepted opinions of scholars and experts at the date of the sale, or
the catalogue description indicated that there was a conflict of such opinions;
(ii) or the only method of establishing at the date of the sale that the item was
a counterfeit would have been by means of processes not then generally
available or accepted, unreasonably expensive or impractical to use; or likely to
have caused damage to the lot or likely (in Whyte’s reasonable opinion) to
have caused loss of value to the lot; or (iii) there has been no material loss in
value of the lot from its value had it been in accordance with its description.
This guarantee is provided for a period of seven (7) years after the date of the
relevant auction, is solely for the benefit of the buyer and may not be
transferred to any third party. Whyte’s has discretion to extend the guarantee
for a longer period. To be able to claim under this Guarantee, the buyer must
(i) notify Whyte’s in writing within three (3) weeks of receiving any
information that causes the buyer to question the authenticity or attribution
of the item, specifying the lot number, date of the auction at which it was
purchased and the reasons why it is thought to be a deliberate forgery; and (ii)
return the item to Whyte’s in the same condition as the date of the sale to the
buyer and be able to transfer good title in the item, free from the third party
claims arising after the date of the sale. Whyte’s has discretion to waive any of
the above requirements. Whyte’s may require the buyer to obtain at the
buyer’s cost the reports of two independent and recognised experts in the
field, mutually acceptable to Whyte’s and the buyer. Whyte’s shall not be
bound by any reports produced by the buyer, and reserves the right to seek
additional expert advice at its own expense. In the event Whyte’s decides to
rescind the sale under this Guarantee, it may refund the buyer the reasonable
costs of up to two mutually approved independent expert reports.
(d) Any lot listed as a “mixed lot, collection, range, portfolio etc.” or stated to
comprise or contain a collection or range of items which are not described
shall be put up for sale not subject to rejection and shall be taken by the buyer
with all (if any) faults, lack of genuineness and errors of description and
numbers of items in the lot, and the buyer shall have no right to reject the lot;
except that, notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this sub-clause, where
before a sale a person intending to bid at the sale gives notice in writing to,
and satisfies Whyte’s that any such lot contains any item or items not
described in the sale catalogue and that person specifically describes that item
or those items in that notice, then that item or those items shall, as between
Whyte’s and that person, to be taken to form part of the description of the lot.
Clause 6
The respective rights and obligations of the parties shall be governed and
interpreted by Irish law, and the buyer hereby submits to the exclusive
jurisdiction of the Irish Courts.
SPECIAL CONDITIONS
(a) The buyer shall pay Whyte’s a commission at the rate of 16.53% (which
excludes VAT at 21% under The Margin Scheme and which is not reclaimable)
of the purchase price.
(b) Whyte’s or its employees, servants or agents may, on request organise
packing and shipping of lots purchased or may order on the buyer’s behalf
third parties to pack or ship purchases. Under no circumstances does Whyte’s
accept any liability whatsoever for any loss or damage howsoever occasioned
in the course of such service.
(c) The buyer authorises Whyte’s to use any photographs or illustrations of any
lot purchased for any or all purposes as Whyte’s may require.
The placing of a bid will be taken as full agreement to all the above conditions.
WHYTE & SONS AUCTIONEERS LIMITED
38 Molesworth Street,
Dublin 2