John Duncan Fergusson, 
British 1874-1961 - 

Three dancing figures; 

oil on paper laid down on board, 22.3 x 18 cm (ARR) 

Provenance: 
Margaret Morris Fergusson; 
Jocelyn Gunson, gifted by the above in 1971 and thence by descent 

Note: 
signed, dated and dedicated by the Artist's partner: 'Oil by J.D. Fergusson / Margaret Morris Fergusson / To Jocelyn with many happy memories and much love, Meg Glasgow, Dec 1971' 

Dance and rhythm was central to the form and meaning of J. D. Fergusson's work, an idea he developed in conjunction with his life-partner, the dancer and painter Margaret Morris. In works such as this, the dance encapsulates the loving union of man, woman and nature, and is central to his most iconic work, 'Les Eus, c.1910' now in the collection of The Hunterian in Glasgow. Fergusson lived in Paris from 1907 until the First World War, and this interest in dance would also reflect the impact of Henri Matisse on his work, in both the subject and bold visual style. 

J. D. Fergusson is now celebrated as one of four Scottish Colourists, alongside Samuel John Peploe, George Leslie Hunter and Francis Cadell. From 1907 the artist lived in Paris, becoming an important figure in Modern circles, including being a founding editor of the journal Rhythm in 1911, working alongside John Middleton Murry, Katherine Mansfield and Anne Estelle Rice. A large collection of his work is now on permanent display at The Fergusson Gallery in Perth, demonstrating his position as one of the most important Scottish artists of the 20th Century.