Vanessa Bell (née Stephen)

Sitterback to top

• Vanessa Bell (née Stephen) (1879-1961), Painter; sister of Virginia Woolf. Sitter in 16 portraits, Artist associated with 14 portraits.

Artistback to top

• Duncan Grant (1885-1978), Artist. Artist of 9 portraits, Sitter associated with 28 portraits.

This portraitback to top

Bell began to work with Grant, a younger painter whose work she admired, from around 1913 and they subsequently fell in love. This is one of two portraits of Bell by Duncan Grant in the collection of the National Portrait Gallery. Its use of rich, vibrant colour and pattern demonstrates Grant's adoption of a Post-Impressionist style. At the time the portrait was painted, Bell was also experimenting with bold colour and simplified form in her own painting.

Linked publicationsback to top

• Gibson, Robin, Treasures from the National Portrait Gallery, 1996, p. 105
• Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 48
• Spalding, Frances, Insights: The Bloomsbury Group, 2005, p. 4
• Spalding, Frances, Insights: The Bloomsbury Group, 2005, p. 42

Subjects & Themesback to top

• Books and libraries
• Flowers and plants
• Hats and head-attire
• Known interiors
• Lounging