Vanessa Bell (1879-1961)

Vanessa Bell, her family and Duncan Grant spent the winter of 1921-22 at La Maison Blanche, a house in St Tropez rented from Rose Vildrac, wife of the dealer Charles Vildrac who showed works by Grant and Bell in his Paris gallery. The works painted in St Tropez were mostly landscapes. Bell’s outstanding painting from these months is a view through French windows across the landscape to the Golfe de St Tropez (Tate Gallery). The present still life with its Mediterranean character exemplifies Bell’s new-found sobriety of approach in the post-war years, and the slow-burning sensuousness of her colour. Bell gave this work to Grant and he recorded it as his property on the back of the painting.

We are very grateful to Richard Shone for preparing this catalogue entry.