Sir William Nicholson (British, 1872-1949) The Cat signed with initial 'N' (lower right) and titled 'The Cat' (verso) oil on canvas 40.5 x 30.4 cm. (16 x 12 in.) Painted circa 1933 Footnotes: Provenance The Artist, from whom purchased by Muriel Gore, 1934, by whom bequeathed to Private Collection, U.K., 1977 Literature Lillian Browse, William Nicholson, Rupert Hart-Davis, London, 1956, p.236, cat.no.353 (col.ill) Patricia Reed, William Nicholson: Catalogue Raisonné of the Oil Paintings, Yale University Press, London & New Haven, 2011, p.530, cat.no.683 'This work, probably dating from William Nicholson's visit to Seville, shows a building set into a hillside. A tree, not yet in leaf, grows on an embanked terrace with presumably a street out of sight below, as the bars on the ground-floor window indicate. Sunlight is reflected from the upper window but the lack of strongly modulated shadows suggest weak, winter sunshine early in the day. The shallow picture space is articulated by the washing line. The strong verticals and horizontals of the shutters and window surrounds are contrasted with the light brushwork of the tree and the vine. The cat appears to be a late addition to the canvas.' (Patricia Reed, William Nicholson: Catalogue Raisonné of the Oil Paintings, Yale University Press, London & New Haven, 2011, p.530). For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com