John Duncan Fergusson, 
British 1874-1961 - 

Easter Sunday, 1931; 

oil on canvas, signed, titled and dated on the reverse 'J. D. Fergusson Easter Sunday 1931' and with artist's labels attached to the reverse of the stretcher, 37.7 x 43 cm (ARR) 

Provenance: 
Jocelyn Gunson, gifted by the above in 1971 and thence by descent 

Note: 
'Easter Sunday' wonderfully encapsulates the sense of beauty and joie de vivre central to J. D. Fergusson's work, the juxtaposition of the blooming flowers, verdant backdrop and idealised female nude creating a brilliant harmony. The title and depiction of his female subject relates to the painting 'Eástre and Fruits, 1929' (The Fergusson Gallery) and sculpture 'Eástre (Hymn to the Sun), 1924' (Scottish National Gallery), which is most likely a portrait of his partner, the dancer and painter Margaret Morris. 'Eástre' refers to the Saxon goddess of Spring and these works celebrate modern women, reborn and in touch with the forces of nature. 

This was an important period for the artist, with exhibitions in New York in 1928 and in 1931, the year this work was made, he exhibited a number of works at 'Les Peintures Ecossais', held at the Galeries Georges Petit in Paris, demonstrating his continued importance within the French avant-garde. The same year the gallery held a major retrospective of the work of Henri Matisse, a major influence on the life and work of Fergusson. 

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.