Noted American psychologist and accomplished pianist Eleanor de Bretteville Reid began a correspondence with Jack B. Yeats in 1946, requesting information about copies of Cuala Press and Dun Emer books. She purchased her first Yeats painting (Lafitte the Pirate) by accident in 1949. Later, she collected additional paintings, two of which were selected by her husband Frederick during his visit to Ireland in November 1954, specifically to meet Jack B. Yeats and to view his work in several local galleries.