Lot 218: Four views of Easter Island, South-East Pacific, including: Poke Volcano; Moais at Rano Raraku; Moais at Aku Aki; and Fallen Moai with Poke Volcano in the distance

Teddy Millington Drake (1932-1994)
Four views of Easter Island, South-East Pacific, including: Poke Volcano; Moais at Rano Raraku; Moais at Aku Aki; and Fallen Moai with Poke Volcano in the distance
all signed and dated 'Millington Drake 86' (lower right); one inscribed 'Moais at Raroku Easter Island' (lower left); one inscribed 'Mohais at Aku Aki' (lower left) and further inscribed 'Easter Island' (lower right); one inscribed 'Poke Easter Island' (lower right); one inscribed 'Easter Island' (lower right)
charcoal and watercolour, heightened with touches of white
13 x 19½ in. (33 x 49.5 cm.) (4)

London, Niall Hobhouse, EASTER ISLAND: Watercolours by Teddy Millington-Drake, 1 July - 18 July 1986, catalogue number untraced.

This lot is offered without reserve.

Teddy Millington-Drake (1932-1994) visited Easter Island in 1986. Travelling was an important aspect of Millington-Drake's life, both in childhood with his diplomat father, Sir Eugen Millington-Drake (1889-1972), and in later life, a passion that he shared with his companion Bruce Chatwin (1940-1989), the celebrated novelist and travel writer. He was inspired by the challenges that he faced in trying to capture the effects of the ever-changing weather on the landscape. The famous stone sculptures (known as Moais), carved from rock in the sides of the extinct volcano, provided unique subject matter that, as can be seen in the present watercolours, both compliment and personalise the rugged and atmospheric landscapes.