Duncan Grant (British, 1885-1978) Seated Male Nude oil on panel 78.8 x 53.2 cm. (31 x 21 in.) Painted circa 1909 Footnotes: Provenance The Artist, from whom purchased by Edward le Bas His Estate sale; Christie's, London, 3 March 1978, lot 145 Eardley Knollys, thence by descent to Mattei Radev, thence by descent to the present owner Private Collection, U.K. Exhibited London, Tate Gallery, Duncan Grant: A Retrospective Exhibition, organised by Arts Council of Great Britain, 12 May-20 June 1959, cat.no.14 London, Royal Academy, A Painter's Collection: An Exhibition of Paintings, Drawings and Sculpture from the Collection of Edward Le Bas, 1963, cat.no.155 Please note that the present work was painted at the Artist's studio at 19 Belgrave Road and there is a further male nude by the same hand verso. This is an important work in Grant's development as a painter showing a newfound freedom of colour following a greater awareness of contemporary French art. He was chiefly painting portraits of family and friends at this time (1909-10) such as the immaculate portraits of J.M. Keynes (King's College, Cambridge) and James Strachey (Tate, London). But he also hired models from whom he was able to work more freely without having to satisfy the demands of likeness. 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