Saturday, January 25, 2014

The Nine Ages of Duncan Grant


(NB - I've now been informed that this is not Duncan Grant, so please regard this post as 'The Eight Ages...')







Duncan Grant's career as an artist has been rather overshadowed by his relationship with the Bloomsbury Group, but the Tate Gallery website has a selection of his works here.

10 comments:

Little Nell said...

I’d never heard of him before . Thank you for sending me off to widen my knowledge! An interesting series of portraits for him from boyhood to old age.

Steerforth said...

Nell - I think he's well known in Sussex because his work can be seen at Charleston, Berwick Church and Monk House. He certainly had a fruity life!

Canadian Chickadee said...

Seeing the photos of Richard Grant aging made me think of the Picture of Dorian Grey. Scary how time takes it toll on all of us! xoxo

Helen Brocklebank said...

I love Duncan Grant, reminds me to read Deceived With Kindness, which has glowered at me from my shelf for ages

PS: Harper's Bazaar editor Justine Picardie is in conversation with Grayson Perry at the Charleston Literary Festival in May.

Steerforth said...

Carol - Too true. When I recently recognised a woman I hadn't seen for 27 years, she seemed incredibly grateful.

Helen - Thanks for the tip. I expect it will sell out quickly, so I'll book a ticket as soon as I can.

Desperate Reader said...

Brilliant, thank you.

Debra said...

Thanks for the link.
I particularly appreciated a painting of his garden during WW2 years, when the country was busy digging up spare countyside for civic utilitarian projects...
I can definitely understand why someone could cultivate a reclusive vision when confronted by our modern functionality/utilitarianism.

Anonymous said...

hi, the second picture is of David Garnett

Steerforth said...

Ah, thank you Anonymous. I'll have to find another photo, or change it to "The Eight Ages..."

Anonymous said...

The white bearded man in the last 2 photos is Paul Roche, a fellow artist (painter) and Duncan's life companion. Duncan Grant is indeed one of the most skilled painters and was part of the Bloomsbury Group. He was chiefly gay, but had a relationship with Vanessa Bell and a daughter, Angelica (Bell) was born. Angelica later got married to David "Bunny" Garnett, who also had a brief relationship with Duncan Grant. Angelica was told that Duncan Grant was her biological father at her 21st birthday, in 1839.