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PROPERTY FROM THE ERICH SOMMER COLLECTION Over a period of more than twenty years Erich Sommer (1921-2004) passionately sought out some of the best examples of 20th Century British Art, the result of which is a highly personal group of pictures and sculpture, which embraces the diversity and richness of this field. Sommer was drawn to collecting art later in his life. In acquiring his collection from select London galleries, he displayed enthusiasm for and understanding of, 20th Century British Art, not least in the variety of artists represented. From this collection, Christie's is delighted to be offering the following 17 lots. Also to be offered from this property are 61 lots which will be sold at Christie's, South Kensington in the sale of 20th Century British Art on 24 November 2005.

Duncan Grant (1885-1978)

Wine Barrels

Details

Duncan Grant (1885-1978)
Wine Barrels
signed and dated 'D.Grant./30' (lower right)
oil on board laid down on panel
14 x 17 in. (35.5 x 43 cm.)

Provenance

Mrs Paris, by whom purchased at the 1931 exhibition.
Arthur Crossland, his sale; Christie's, 3 February 1956, lot 143 (part lot).
with Redfern Gallery, London.

Exhibited

London, British Institute of Adult Education.
London, Cooling Galleries, The London Artist's Association, June-July 1931, no. 6.
Bradford, Bradford City Art Gallery, 1938, no. 70.
Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Laing Art Gallery and Museum, Special Exhibition of Modern Paintings and Drawings, 1939, no. 272.
Harrogate, Borough of Harrogate Art Gallery, The Crossland Collection, July-August 1940.

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium, which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

Lot Essay

La Bergère, the house Duncan Grant and Vanessa Bell rented at Cassis (1928-38), was set among the vineyards and olive groves of Fontcreuse, just north of Cassis itself. The white wine of the area was (and still is) particularly well known. At the time Grant lived there, the Château de Fontcreuse was managed by Colonel Peter Teed who arranged for barrels of wine to be transported to Grant's Sussex home, Charleston, where it was bottled.

The vineyards provided the subjects for a number of paintings and the present work was first exhibited alongside The Winepress, (no. 8) and Vineyard, (no. 15) at Grant's Cooling Galleries exhibition. The painting was purchased by Mrs Parish for 15 gns.

R.S.

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