James Willebrant Ian Grant, painter

Years later James Willebrant said of this portrait of his friend and fellow artist Ian Grant: ‘Ian and I as young painters had only known each other for a couple of years and had become firm friends. We decided we would paint each other for the 1975 Archibald Prize. My painting of Ian was selected as a finalist for the prize; however, Ian’s painting of me was unfortunately and surprisingly not chosen. In a strange way we both made it into the prize that year; he as a sitter/subject and myself as an artist!’