Portrait of Molly Le Bas

Edward Le Bas 1904-1966, was an English painter and art collector. He was born in London to a wealthy family his father was a steel magnate, Edward had 2 sisters, twins, Molly and Gwen, who were a year older than he. Molly Le Bas was an English sculptor and artist who exhibited her sculptures in stone, marble and bronze at the Royal Academy, the Paris Salon, the Walker Art Gallery and the Royal Glasgow Institute. This portrait of Molly Le Bas remained unrecognised for many years, however it is another deliberately obscure picture from Edward Le Bas in that the solemnity of the sitter which is seated directly in line with a mirror, displays the scene as mirror imaging. Unfortunately Gwen Le Bas died in 1944 and this portrait of Molly displays the depth of feeling towards the missing twin. The picture is presented in an original Bloomsbury frame which is consistent with the artist's connections and is original to the painting. Molly lived a very long life until 1996 and died when she was 93 years old. The picture is unsigned but is now easily recognised by those art historians who know and understand Edward LeBas and the family that surrounded him, also the painting was cleaned by a leading art conservator, Alan Bush, who stated that this picture and another painting by La Bas was most definitely by the same hand. And thereafter the recognition of the mirror image defined the artist and the sitter. I have included an alternative biography for your interest. Edward Le Bas RA (1904–1966) was an influential British painter, independent gentleman, and major art collector who became a central figure in mid-century British modernism. Best known for his vibrant figure compositions, intimate interior scenes, and richly coloured oil landscapes, his painterly style closely aligned with the French Post-Impressionist tradition. Backed by an immense family fortune, Le Bas divided his time between producing his own artwork and amassing one of the period's most significant private art collections. Born in London on 27 October 1904, Le Bas was the son of a wealthy iron and steel magnate. His sister, Molly Le Bas, also pursued a career in the arts as a notable sculptor. Educated alongside lifelong friend and future cultural icon Cecil Beaton. Briefly read architecture in 1924 before shifting entirely to fine arts. He spent formative months in Meudon under Hermann Paul, a direct disciple of Paul Cézanne. Le Bas enrolled from 1924 to study painting under the leadership of William Rothenstein, alongside peers like Henry Moore and John Piper. Because of his substantial private inheritance, Le Bas never relied on selling art to survive. This financial independence allowed him to maintain a grand home at 53 Bedford Square, London, which became a thriving creative hub. He lived a fascinating dual life as an active businessman and a fluid romantic who loved both men and women. Le Bas formed incredibly close, lifelong bonds with Bloomsbury Group artists Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant. Grant was a frequent worker at Le Bas' house, and the trio regularly embarked on extensive painting tours through Dieppe, Venice, and Provence. His deeply saturated, boldly applied paintwork owed a huge debt to the intimate styles of Édouard Vuillard and his Bloomsbury companions. He even served as the physical model for the figure of Christ in Duncan Grant's famous mural, The Victory of Calvary, at Berwick Church. While he painted for passion, Le Bas achieved considerable institutional acclaim within the traditional and modern British art scenes: 1933 Began exhibiting regularly at the Royal Academy of Arts.1936: Held his first major solo exhibition at the prestigious Lefevre Gallery.1942: Joined the avant-garde London Group exhibiting society.1954: Elected a full Academician (RA) of the Royal Academy.1957: Appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for his services to the arts. Le Bas used his fortune to become a legendary patron of his contemporaries. He compiled a massive inventory focused on the Camden Town Group, French Post-Impressionism, and Bloomsbury art. In 1963, the Royal Academy honoured his discerning eye by hosting a dedicated exhibition titled A Painter's Collection, which critics widely praised for its warmth and immense quality. Le Bas passed away on 23 July 1966 at the age of 61 and was laid to rest in Highgate Cemetery. Today, his original paintings are preserved across global institutions, including the Tate Collection, the Arts Council, the National Museum of Wales, and private collections.