BEERBOHM (Sir MAX, 1872-1956, caricaturist, critic, essayist and broadcaster) FINE CRAYON DRAWING OF THE ELDERLY BEERBOHM, half-length, three quarters facing left, by Kathleen Shackleton, signed and dated [19]53 by the artist and by Beerbohm (thereby giving the portrait his imprimatur), framed and glazed, size of aperture c. 17 x 11 inches, overall size c. 24 x 18 inches, 1953

This is presumably the portrait by Kathleen Shackleton that is listed among the tributes to Beerbohm on his eightieth birthday (J.G. Riewald, Sir Max Beerbohm, 1953, pp. 327 and 330).

Not that this drawing shares the attribute, but it is amusing to note that Beerbohm loved to recall Singer Sargent's definition of portrait painting: 'A portrait is a painting where there is something not quite right about the mouth.' (S.N. Behrman, Conversation with Max, 1960, p. 194).

£1,250