Henriette II (Large Head)
Stamped on back: C. Valsuani cire perdue
1930/07
Galerie Pierre, Paris, France [1]
by 1953/02 – 1955/11/02
Curt Valentin Gallery (Curt Valentin, 1902–1954), New York, USA [21]
1955/11/02 –
National Gallery of Canada, purchased from Curt Valentin Gallery [3]
The main source for this provenance is Claude Duthuit's catalogue raisonné, cat. no. 70 [Duthuit, Claude. "Henri Matisse. Catalogue raisonné de L'oeuvre sculpté établi avec la collaboration de Wanda de Guébriant." Paris 1997]. Exceptions and other supporting documents are noted.
[1] According to Claude Duthuit's catalogue raisonné the bronze was included in the exhibition “Exposition de peintures et de sculptures de Henri Matisse.” Galerie Pierre, Paris, July 1930.
[2] Curt Valentin established his New York art gallery in 1937. In a letter to Henri Matisse, dated September 18, 1948, Curt Valentin notes his intention to purchase five bronzes, among them two “Têtes” and one “Petite Tête”. No dimensions or titles are given. Valentin had already acquired eight bronzes from Matisse and was interested to purchase another twelve [Curt Valentin Papers, III. A. The Museum of Modern Art Archives, New York]. Henriette II was in Valentin's possession at the latest by February 1953, when he included it in his exhibition “The Sculpture of Henri Matisse.” [Curt Valentin Gallery, New York, February 10-28, 1953]. The bronze in Valentin's catalogue can be identified as the NGC's by its marble base. The National Gallery of Canada acquired the piece from Valentin on November 2, 1955.
[3] See note [2]. Accession Log [NGC curatorial file].
Signed on back: 5/10 HM