Palm Tree, Menton

Executed in 1963, Palm Tree, Menton is a vibrantly coloured depiction of the exotic natural scenery surrounding Sutherland's beloved Villa Blanche at Menton in the South of France. The landscape at Menton became a place of deep inspiration for the artist, leading him and his wife Kathleen to purchase the Villa Blanche in 1955. Named after his home in Kent, The White House, the Villa was a modernist building echoing Le Corbusier and was designed by Irish architect Eileen Gray.

It is likely that the dedication ‘H.FM/L.S’ in the lower right of the painting refers to two of Sutherland’s friends, Felix Hans Man and Stefan Lorant, who were both guests at the Villa Blanche. A German-born photographer and art collector, Man was notable for his photographic portraits of British artists such as Henry Moore and Paul Nash, now housed in the National Portrait Gallery. He also regularly photographed Sutherland, one example being in 1954 whilst Sutherland was painting the controversial portrait of Sir Winston Churchill that was later destroyed. Man was also present for numerous commissions that Sutherland undertook, including a portrait of Lord Beaverbrook, and he later became Sutherland’s agent. A friend as well as an agent, Man exchanged numerous fondly written letters with Sutherland between 1946 and 1977. In 1934 after emigrating to England, Man met the innovative photojournalist Stefan Lorant, editor for Weekly Illustrated, who was introduced to Sutherland. The friendship between Sutherland, Man and Lorant, and their invitations to stay at the Villa Blanche, suggest that this painting was gifted to both Man and Lorant.