George Keyt (Sri Lankan, 1901-1993)


A Study for 'Nara Narayana' signed and dated 'G Keyt/43' (upper right)ink on paper laid to card42.5 x 50cm (16 3/4 x 19 11/16in).
|ProvenanceBears labels indicating that this work was part of Martin Russell's collection.Whilst posted in Ceylon as a sergeant in the British Army from 1942, Martin Russell (1918-2004) discovered the Ceylonese group of artists known as the Colombo '43 Group. George Keyt was a leading figure within this group and it is Keyt whom Russell would take a most keen interest in, purchasing all of his works exhibited at the group's first show held in Colombo in 1943. Russell would go on to write a book 'The Art of George Keyt', published 1950, and continued to patronise the group and encourage the exhibiting of their work throughout Europe.