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Lot Essay
The present drawing with its strong use of wash is arguably one of John's strongest and most striking depictions of Dorelia. The present drawing probably dates from the same period circa 1909 as John's important early picture Woman smiling, which bought him international recognition (fig. 1) and she wears the same green turban.
The variety of poses Dorelia adopted for John are remarkable and the positioning of the weight on one leg is particularly characteristic. Two drawing from the same series are in the Tate Gallery, one shows her raising her skirts (fig. 2) and another shows her arms raised in a similar pose, but she has turned to the right, away from the viewer, see M. Easton and M. Holroyd, The Art of Augustus John, London, 1974, p. 131.
The variety of poses Dorelia adopted for John are remarkable and the positioning of the weight on one leg is particularly characteristic. Two drawing from the same series are in the Tate Gallery, one shows her raising her skirts (fig. 2) and another shows her arms raised in a similar pose, but she has turned to the right, away from the viewer, see M. Easton and M. Holroyd, The Art of Augustus John, London, 1974, p. 131.