More than 300 ink and watercolor drawings, etchings and pencil sketches of the reconstruction of the new Globe Theatre in London will be sold at auction this month by Sotheby’s. The pictorial archive records every phase of the reconstruction of the theatre. It is considered the most comprehensive pictorial record of the theatre’s construction methods, materials and craftspeople. The archive also records excavations on the site of the Rose Theatre in 1989.
The artwork was created by June Everett, the Globe’s first artist-in-residence and, later, Artist of Record of the Building. Everett is a professional artist who studied sculpture at the Sir John Cass School of Art and Printmaking at the City and Guilds of London Art School, Kennington. Everett explained the paintings, saying, “I wanted to do it because I believed in Sam Wanamaker’s dream from a very early stage and I also believe in the continuum of history… I wanted to record for posterity the people who worked on the project, which is why they are identifiable and named.” The artwork, which was previously displayed at a temporary exhibition at the Globe, is being sold by Everett.
The pictorial archive is part of Sotheby’s sale of English Literature, History, Children’s Books & Illustrations. The bid estimate for the collection is 60,000—80,000 GBP (119,000 – 159,000 USD). The auction will take place on Thursday, 17 July at Sotheby’s New Bond Street offices.
Web Resources:
Sotheby’s - “An Eye on the Globe” Pictorial Archive, Sale: L08405
