The Charleston Trust has raised £20,000 of the £60,000 it needs to help save “Lessons in the Orchard,” from sale at auction.
“Lessons in the Orchard” (1917) by Duncan Grant. (C) The Charleston Trust
Duncan Grant’s 1917 painting is considered one of the most important paintings of early life at Charleston, as Grant painted it the summer after he and Vanessa Bell first arrived at the Sussex home in 1916. It was also one of Vanessa Bell’s favorite paintings and has hung by her bedside since that time.
According to Charleston, “The much loved painting serves as a poignant reflection of Grant’s experiences as a conscientious objector during the First World War, depicting a scene of domestic tranquillity amidst the chaos of the era. The painting captures a different kind of family structure, offering a lens into themes of social privilege and chosen kinship that have always been present here at Charleston.”
The family who has loaned Charleston the painting since the 1980s has given Charleston the opportunity to secure its permanent place within its collection.
With the support of the Trustees of the ArtFund, Charleston has secured a grant of £40,000 towards the purchase price. However, it must raise a further £60,000 to ensure that “Lessons in the Orchard” remains in the care of Charleston’s collections team and is returned to public display for generations to enjoy.
Get more details or donate to the Lessons in the Orchard campaign.
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