Studies for a Crucifixion
– Inscription on stretcher by Pierre Carolus-Duran, the artist's son:
ETUDE DU CHRIST / PAR / CAROLUS-DURAN / (se trouvant dans la chapelle / D'AYGULF VAR) / Pierre
– On backing two labels from Shepherd Gallery connected to 1975 and 1980 New York exhibitions.
– Stencilled on frame: “30583”
1917 –
Artist's estate; Pierre Carolus-Duran, his son, by inheritance [1]
– 1974
Herner Wengraf, London, UK (?) [2]
1974 – before 1975/05
Shepherd Gallery (Robert Kashey and David Wojciechowski), New York, purchased from Herner Wengraf [3]
before 1975/05 – 1978/12/04
Joey (b.1933) and Toby Tanenbaum, Toronto, purchased from the Shepherd Gallery [4]
1978/12/04 –
National Gallery of Canada, given by Joey and Toby Tanenbaum [5]
[1] An inscription on the verso of the painting by Pierre Carolus-Duran, the artist's son, implies that it was in his possession after his father's death in 1917.
[2] Robert Kashey states that he purchased the painting from London art-dealer Herner Wengraf in 1974 [fax from Robert Kashey to A. Kausch, NGC Provenance Research Project, July 16, 2008, NGC curatorial file]. Alex Wengraf, however, does not remember ever owning the painting [emails from A. Wengraf to A. Kausch, , July 25, and August 14, 2008].
[3] See note [2]. The Shepherd gallery included the work in their show “Ingres & Delacroix through Degas & Puvis de Chavannes. The Figure in French Art 1800–1870.” in May–June 1975. By this time the painting was already in possession of the Tanenbaums, as noted in the exhibition catalogue.
[4] See note [3]. The Canadian philanthropists Joey and Toby Tanenbaum donated the painting to the NGC in 1978 [Accession log, NGC curatorial file].
[5] See note [4].