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Duncan Grant was a central figure in the Bloomsbury Group, a liberal band of artists, writers and intellectuals, allied through their political ideals, love of fierce debate and stance on sexual equality. Their artistic theories and experiments dramatically refashioned the landscape of British Modernism. This striking nude by Grant was in the collection of the eminent art collector Joseph F. McCrindle, whose vast art collection - which spanned five centuries of art - is now dispersed across institutions such as The National Gallery Washington, the J. Paul Getty Museum and the Frick Collection.

Kneeling Female Nude was likely painted in Grant’s studio at 8 Fitzroy Street, London, which had previously belonged to Walter Sickert. Grant has depicted his subject in his characteristically confident manner through a striking combination of blue and orange brushstrokes. These complimentary colours cast the figure into the forefront of the picture plane whilst the background vibrates with vibrant abstract forms.

Two similar studies which depict the same model in varying poses – reclining and seated - are in the collections of the Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery and Rye Art Gallery [Fig. 1 & 2]. The application of paint, particularly the sketchy blue background, are very similar in all three paintings, suggesting they were all painting within the same session. These paintings offer a rare example of Grant’s portrayal of the female nude and convey his confidence in capturing the model from life.