Henri Matisse

Pierre Matisse, New York (acquired by descent from the artist); 

Pierre-Noël Matisse (acquired by descent from the above); 

Christie's, New York, 4 November 2009, lot 295 (consigned by the estate of the above);

Where acquired by the present collector.

A. E. Elsen, The Sculpture of Henri Matisse, New York, 1972, no. 190, p. 142, reproduction of another cast.

C. Duthuit and W. de Guébriant, Henri Matisse, Catalogue raisonné de l'oeuvre sculpté, Paris, 1997, no. 63, pp. 178-79, reproduction of another cast.

Few works can claim a provenance as distinguished as that of Vénus accroupie ou Michel-Ange. Retained by the Matisse family for nearly six decades, the sculpture descended directly from the artist to his son, Pierre Matisse, and later to his grandson, Pierre-Noël Matisse. When the present collector acquired Vénus accroupie ou Michel-Ange in 2009, they became its first owner outside of the Matisse family since its creation.