John Butler Yeats (1839-1922) William Morris Mixed media on paper, 48.5 x 39cm (19 x 15'') Provenance: The collection of the Yeats' family. From the estate of the late Senator Michael Butler...

John Butler Yeats (1839-1922) William Morris Mixed media on paper, 48.5 x 39cm (19 x 15'') Provenance: The collection of the Yeats' family. From the estate of the late Senator Michael Butler Yeats An early and important portrait of Morris, with whom the Yeats family had multiple connections. In 1879-80 and again from 1886 they lived in Bedford Park in London, where many of the houses were decorated with Morris wallpaper and artefacts. John Butler Yeats, a noted conversationalist, had many friends in common with Morris. A sketch is reproduced in William Murphy: Prodigal Father page 147 and a portrait is mentioned there. Lily Yeats worked for some years for Morris' daughter May in her embroidery business. W.B. Yeats also knew Morris and admired his philosophy (see his essay 'The Happiest of the Poets'). When Elizabeth Yeats was setting up the Cuala Press, she was advised on typography by Morris' close friend Emery Walker. The original wooden backing board to this portrait, which is available to the purchaser, is inscribed in pencil in framer's hand 'Jn. Yates (sic)/York St.' John Butler Yeats had a studio at York Street in Dublin during a brief return from London circa 1881. The rear of this backing board is deeply charred, suggesting it was at some time used as a fireguard, or perhaps to generate a draught in a coal fire that had been banked up for the night. Remarkably the painting is undamaged.

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