11th Feb, 2026 11:00
The Estate of John Russell Taylor: Author, Critic, Collector
86
THOMAS ROBERT WAY (BRITISH 1861-1913)
TWILIGHT ON THE WATER
signed T.R.Way lower right; oil on canvas; 32.5 x 39cm; 12 3/4 x 15 1/4in (43 x 49.5cm; 17 x 19 1/2in framed)
Son of a lithographer, engraver and printer, Way trained at the South Kensington Art Schools and together with his father was instrumental in convincing Whistler to explore lithography, preparing the lithographic stones, publishing one hundered and thirty of his lithographs in 1896, and after Whistler's death collating and publishing the artist's entire lithographic output. Way went on to write a memoir as Whistler's friend and confidant, Memories of James McNeill Whistler. He also designed posters for the London Underground and printed the work of Frank Brangwyn (see lot 46).
Sold for £1,000
TWILIGHT ON THE WATER
signed T.R.Way lower right; oil on canvas; 32.5 x 39cm; 12 3/4 x 15 1/4in (43 x 49.5cm; 17 x 19 1/2in framed)
Son of a lithographer, engraver and printer, Way trained at the South Kensington Art Schools and together with his father was instrumental in convincing Whistler to explore lithography, preparing the lithographic stones, publishing one hundered and thirty of his lithographs in 1896, and after Whistler's death collating and publishing the artist's entire lithographic output. Way went on to write a memoir as Whistler's friend and confidant, Memories of James McNeill Whistler. He also designed posters for the London Underground and printed the work of Frank Brangwyn (see lot 46).
Auction: The Estate of John Russell Taylor: Author, Critic, Collector, 11th Feb, 2026
Auction Location: London, UK
John Russell Taylor was a compulsive collector. When he died at the age of ninety, his two bedroom flat on the corner of Brook Green was floor to ceiling with books and pictures that he had collected over the last seventy years. A precocious talent he was awarded a scholarship to read English at Cambridge aged 16 and graduated with a starred First Class degree. Film, theatre and art critic for The Times for more than four decades, he wrote thousands of articles and reviews for the newspaper. He also wrote over sixty books – critical studies, biographies, and monographs. He was appointed professor of Film at the University of Southern California during the 1970s, when he was asked by Alfred Hitchcock to write his biography. Hitch remains the standard text on the film director. John's interests ranged across all aspects of the arts from Art Nouveau book illustration to Vorticism, fan paintings, poetry and stage design. Struck by the visual rather than the value of a work of art, the sale of his picture collection gives a flavour of the full gamut of his encyclopaedic mind, a man remembered for his phenomenal range of reference, his extraordinary talent for writing and his warm and generous character.
For a copy of the printed catalogue, email pictures@olympiaauctions.com
PUBLIC EXHIBITION
Friday 6th February: 10am - 5pm
Sunday 8th February: 12pm - 4pm
Monday 9th February: 10am - 8pm (Drinks: 5pm - 8pm)
Tuesday 10th February: 10am - 5pm
View Press Release for more information
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PUBLIC EXHIBITION
Friday 6th February: 10am - 5pm
Sunday 8th February: 12pm - 4pm
Monday 9th February: 10am - 8pm (Drinks: 5pm - 8pm)
Tuesday 10th February: 10am - 5pm
