The Modern Art Sale at Duggleby Stephenson on 11th July delivered an exciting day of bidding, with strong results across an eclectic mix of 20th-century and contemporary names. From Bloomsbury icons to global modernists and sculptural highlights, the sale proved that collector appetite for modern art remains vibrant and far-reaching.
Below, we revisit some of the key lots and explore the artists behind them, their legacies, significance and why their work continues to resonate today.
The Bloomsbury Group – Quiet Power and Enduring Value
Duncan Grant (1885–1978)
A central figure in the Bloomsbury Group, Grant was known for his post-impressionist palette and free, expressive brushwork. He was closely tied to the artistic community at Charleston in Sussex, where his work across painting, decorative arts and design helped define early British modernism. Grant’s relationship with Vanessa Bell, both personal and artistic, was hugely significant, and his work remains widely collected.
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The Farmstead at Charlston, 1932, a richly toned oil on paper with a notable exhibition history (Leicester Galleries, Sir Hugh Walpole collection), sold for £19,000.
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Landscape near Firle, a quiet East Sussex scene painted with subtle atmospheric handling, achieved £7,800.
Vanessa Bell (1879–1961)
Sister to Virginia Woolf and a founding member of the Bloomsbury Group, Bell’s work straddles abstraction and figuration. She was an early pioneer of post-impressionism in Britain and helped shift the country’s art scene away from rigid Victorian norms. Bell’s still lifes and portraits are especially prized for their restraint, mood, and compositional harmony.
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Still Life of Poppies and Roses, an elegant vertical composition on panel, sold for £18,500. With provenance from Bell’s family and major galleries on both sides of the Atlantic, the result reflects her enduring appeal.