LUCIAN FREUD WRITES TO THE YORKSHIRE ART COLLECTOR RONNIE DUNCAN

Laid into a 1974 exhibition catalogue, a letter from Lucian Freud to the visionary Yorkshire art collector Ronnie Duncan (1928-) whose step-son was married to one of Freud’s daughters. In the letter, written in pencil in Freud’s characteristic almost-childlike handwriting, the artist thanks Duncan ‘(in advance) for the Grouse’ but apologetically bows out of a dinner invitation: ‘I will not be able to come tonight as I am working.’ (One wonders whether the Grouse was intended for eating or painting - Freud made several paintings of game birds.) The original envelope addressed to ‘Mr & Mrs Ronnie Duncan/ By Hand’ is also present. The letter is written on paper with the watermark of ‘Original Turkey Mill Kent’ (20x25cm), old folds. Ronnie Duncan has been described by Simon Wallis, Director of The Hepworth Wakefield as the ‘Jim Ede of the North, who over the last 60 years, through great vision and creative curiosity, has developed an astonishing art collection and fostered friendships with some of Britain’s greatest artists.’ Duncan’s friendship with Freud was founded on shared artistic interests as well as their relationship by marriage. The exhibition catalogue is for Freud’s Hayward Gallery exhibition from early in 1974 which toured to Leeds, near Ronnie Duncan’s home, late in the year. Letters by Lucian Freud (1922-2011) are scarce in commerce.