Duncan Grant's diary sells for £13,750 at auction

A diary belonging to famous Scottish artist Duncan Grant has sold for £13,750 at auction. This amount is 17 times higher than the expected price of £500-£800. The diary was discovered years after Grant's death in 1978 and dates back to January 21, 1911. It was a gift from his mother. The diary contains Grant's notes and appointments for the year 1911. It provides a rare look into his life and work during a key time in his career. Grant was a member of the well-known Bloomsbury Group, a collective of influential artists and writers. Grant began his diary with a note about receiving it as a present. It includes his plans for creating murals at Borough Polytechnic, now known as London South Bank University. The diary also features sketches, updates on his artworks, and social events with other artists. Among the notable figures mentioned in his entries are Vanessa Bell and Virginia Woolf. The diary also captures Grant's experience of witnessing the coronation of King George V and Queen Mary in 1911. John Holmes, managing director of Gorringe’s auctioneers, expressed excitement about the auction result. He noted there was significant international interest in the diary, highlighting its importance in art history.