Oil on board, 8 by 11 1/2 ins (20 by 29 cm)

Provenance: a gift from the artist to Margot Walmsley, by direct descent to her nephew               

Margot Walmsley was an eccentric and much talked about literary hostess who was also editor of the magazine Encounter. For more than forty years she entertained artists, musicians, writers and other public figures at her flat off High Street Kensington and Craxton was amongst those who attended these much talked-about salons. As well as this Craxton painting, her collection included work by Henry Moore, Nicholas de Stael and L.S.Lowry. This charming sketch shows Craxton’s cat in Crete (where he had by then settled). It is a subject seen in other works of the same date, often, as with this picture, bearing a dedication.