Duncan Grant (British, 1885-1978) Portrait of Simon Bussy signed 'D.Grant' (lower right) oil on canvas laid on board 73.5 x 62 cm. (29 x 24 3/8 in.) Painted circa 1922-25 Footnotes: Provenance The Artist (until 1964) With Wildenstein & Co., London, 12 December 1964, where purchased by Mr A. McAlpine With Gallery Edward Harvane, London, 22 December 1972, where purchased by Lord and Lady Neill, thence by family descent Private Collection, U.K. Exhibited London, Wildenstein & Co., Duncan Grant and his World, 4 November-12 December 1964, cat.no.73 Stockholm, Prins Eugens Waldemarsudde, Duncan Grant, 5 June-29 August 1999, cat.no.30 The French painter Simon Bussy (1870-1954) is especially valued for his striking images in pastel of animals and birds, often studied at London Zoo in Regent's Park on his annual visits to the capital. He also made distinctive pastel portraits such as those of French writers such as Gide and English friends including the mountaineer George Mallory and his brother-in-law Lytton Strachey (the last two in the National Portrait Gallery). He became an intimate of the Strachey family when in 1903 he married Dorothy (see lot 39), who later became the accredited translator of Gide and the author of Olivia. They lived in Roquebrune near Monte Carlo with their daughter Janie, a painter and great friend of the Bell family. Bussy had studied under Gustave Moreau at the Beaux-Arts where he met Matisse and became his lifelong friend. As a young man, Duncan Grant received much advice from Bussy including an introduction to Jacques-Emile Blanche's school La Palette which Grant attended 1906-07 and an important letter of introduction to Matisse in 1911. We are grateful to Richard Shone for compiling this catalogue entry. This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: AR AR Goods subject to Artists Resale Right Additional Premium. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com