Henri Matisse. Dance (I). Paris, Boulevard des Invalides, early 1909

Henri Matisse Dance (I) Paris, Boulevard des Invalides, early 1909

  • Not on view

In March 1909, Matisse received a commission from the Russian merchant Sergei Shchukin for two large decorative panels, Dance and Music (now in the Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg). This painting was made quickly as a compositional study for Dance, which was intended to hang on the landing of a staircase, approached from the lower right. This may be why the lower figure leans into the painting, increasing the sense of movement, and why the figure at left is so large, slowing it. Drawing visible beneath the paint shows that Matisse started with two smaller figures where the large figure is now.

Gallery label from 2012.
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
8' 6 1/2" x 12' 9 1/2" (259.7 x 390.1 cm)
Credit
Gift of Nelson A. Rockefeller in honor of Alfred H. Barr, Jr.
Object number
201.1963
Copyright
© 2019 Succession H. Matisse / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York
Department
Painting and Sculpture

Installation views

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This work is included in the Provenance Research Project, which investigates the ownership history of works in MoMA's collection.

Henri Matisse, Paris.
[Gertrude Stein, Paris]
October 1936 - February 1939, Pierre Matisse Gallery (stock no. C834, P.M. no. 131), New York, acquired on consignment from Henri Matisse.
February 1939 - 1963, Walter P. Chrysler, Jr., New York, purchased from Henri Matisse through Pierre Matisse Gallery.
1963, Nelson A. Rockefeller, New York, purchased from Walter P. Chrysler, Jr. through Sidney Janis Gallery.
1963, The Museum of Modern Art, New York, acquired as gift from Nelson A. Rockefeller in honor of Alfred H. Barr, Jr.

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