Lot 869 , Attributed to Watteau Cupid wrestling a lion, 5 x 8in.

Attributed to Watteau
sanguine chalk,
Cupid wrestling a lion,
5 x 8in.
Estimate £120-180

Dennis Farr, museum curator and art historian was an outstanding propogandist for 20th century British art. He trained under Anthony Blunt, wrote his MA dissertation on William Etty and subsequently published a full catalogue (William Etty, 1958)
His career began as Assistant Keeper at the Tate Gallery where he was involved in the Duncan Grant retrospective, the 'Romantic Movement' exhibition and wrote two books; Modern British Paintings, Drawings and Sculpture (1964) and British Sculpture Since 1945 (1965). He went on to work at the Paul Mellon Collection in Washington, Glasgow University and as Director of the Birmingham City Museum and Art Gallery.
He served as a JP, was appointed CBE in 1991 and remained unique in having been both President of the Museums Association and Chairman of the Association of Art Historians. Alongside his administrative roles he engaged in research, producing numerous works including a volume in the Oxford History of English Art series; English Art 1870-1940 (1978) as well as his book on the sculptor Lynn Chadwick (Lynn Chadwick: sculpture, 1990, written with Eva Chadwick).


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Sold for £700