Sold for: $13,750

PROVENANCE
Purchased from the Artist by Carl Wilfred Rous, Ontario
By descent to the present Private Collection, Ontario

At the outbreak of war in 1914, Beatty endeavored to enlist, but found that he was too old at the age of 45. At the time, the British had set up a program for artists to record the war effort, and the same call was put forth to the Royal Canadian Academy and Ontario Society of Artists for Canadian artists. The two organizations formed a joint committee and chose four artists who were able to head out immediately. J.W. Beatty was among the selected, and on March 9th, 1918, he set off for London along with Maurice Cullen, Frederick Varley and Charles Simpson to record the Canadian war efforts. The title of this work suggests that Beatty was stationed at Camp Witley, a temporary army camp set up on Witley Common near Surrey England during both World Wars. The camp was approximately 64 kilometers from London. It was likely during this time that he completed this painting, while waiting to be dispatched to France.

This fine painting was first purchased from J.W. Beatty in 1919, the year he returned from the UK, by Carl Wilfred Rous. Carl was the brother of Herbert Rous, of Rous & Mann Press Limited, a printing company that became famous for being the first in Canada to establish a full-time art department.

All prices are in Canadian Dollars

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