Toni del Renzio (1915-2007) was an artist and writer of Russian and Italian origin. He was at one point the leader of the British Surrealists, having brought editorial organization, motivation and philosophy to the group at a time of wartime hiatus. Del Renzio served with the Trotskyites in the Spanish Civil War, and then reached Paris in 1938, where he became friendly with Pablo Picasso and AndreMasson. Arriving in Britain a year later, he was fuelled with creative enthusiasm and seized Surrealism as a focus for his scholarly energies.

In March 1942, after a year of preparation and with financial support from Ithell Colquhoun, del Renzio published the sole issue of Arson; a journal conceived with the intention of giving a clear focus to Surrealism and of re-establishing the group. Robert Melville, whose writing had impressed del Renzio, played a key role in the conception of the publication, and this work is dedicated to him.

Artworks by del Renzio are exceedingly rare, and this watercolour is a second version of a painting he did for Conroy Maddox two days earlier titled 'The Cock Crew', which also contains a splintered plank of wood as well as three shapes on the horizon, casting shadows.

With thanks to Silvano Levy.