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Seated woman
Maker
(artist)
1869-1954
1869-1954
Title
Seated woman
Date of Production
1919
Medium
graphite on white wove paper with three large pinholes at upper edge
Dimensions
Height: 35.5 cm
Width: 25.4 cm
Width: 25.4 cm
Accession Number
D.1935.SC.142
Mode of Acquisition
Samuel Courtauld, gift, 1935
Credit
The Courtauld, London (Samuel Courtauld Trust)
Copyright
Work in the public domain
Location
Not currently on display
Keywords
Notes
This drawing is a study for a painting that Matisse executed in his studio in Issy-les-Moulineaux, south-west of Paris, in the summer of 1919. The model is the nineteen-year-old Antoinette Arnoux, who worked closely with the artist for two years, first in Nice and later travelling with him to Issy. During this time, Matisse created a substantial body of work featuring Arnoux, who played a prominent role in the artist’s evolving draughtsmanship. Two further drawings (both in private collections) related to the finished canvas show the model in the same cane chair; in one, Arnoux appears nude, and in the other garbed in the same clothes but viewed from a greater distance and with greater emphasis on the nearby table. In the present drawing, Matisse situates the model close to the picture plane and focuses on her striking costume, a nod on the artist’s part to the Middle East or North Africa. After having visited Morocco in 1912–13, Matisse developed a fascination with the exotic that he would later develop, with his next model, into an odalisque fantasy. Here, Arnoux sports a loosely tied headscarf, a flowing skirt or perhaps harem pants,a sleeveless vest and a long-sleeve, transparent shirt that skims her bare breasts and remains open at the front. The edge of a table, complete with a small cup and saucer, works to anchor the figure in space. Using precise lines and disciplined hatching, Matisse has created a drawing of adeptly balanced contrasts. Framed by the straight lines of the chair, Arnoux’s frontal pose and her frank, somewhat challenging expression are combined with the young woman’s soft contours and the sinuous lines of her revealing clothes to form a drawing of unnerving sensuality.
[Entry from The Courtauld Collection: A Vision for Impressionism, exh. cat., Fondation Louis Vuitton, Paris, 2019]
Provenance
Bernheim-Jeune (Paris); purchased there by Percy Moore Turner of the Independent Gallery (London), 19 December 1924 (£31 5s or 2,500 f); purchased there by Samuel Courtauld, London (1876-1947), 2 January 1925 (£40, along with D.1932.SC.151); Courtauld Gift 1935
Exhibition History
The Courtauld Collection. A Vision for Impressionism, Louis Vuitton Foundation, Paris, 20/02/2019-17/06/2019
Matisse Arabesque, Scuderie del Quirinale, Rome, 04/03/2015-21/06/2015
Mantegna to Matisse - Master Drawings from The Courtauld Gallery, The Frick Collection, New York, 02/10/2012-27/01/2013 ...More
Mantegna to Matisse - Master Drawings from The Courtauld Gallery, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 14/06/2012-09/09/2012
Figure Color Space: Henri Matisse [Figurr Farbe Raum], K20 Kunstsammlung, Nordrhein-Westfallen, Dusseldorf and Fondation Beyeler, Riehen/Basle, 2006
Henri Matisse - Interiors with Women, Kunstsammling Nordhrein-Westfalen, Dusseldorf, Germany, 29/10/2005-19/02/2006
Matisse - Picasso, Museum of Modern Art & New York & USA, 12/02/2003-19/05/2003
Matisse - Picasso, Tate Modern & London & England, 24/04/2002-18/08/2002
The Courtauld Collection: Masterpieces of Impressionism and Post-Impressionism, Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, 14/06/1998-21/09/1998
The Courtauld Collection, Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, 26/12/1997-12/05/1998
Drawings of Henri Matisse, Hayward Gallery, London, 04/10/1984-06/01/1985
19th and 20th Century Drawings and Prints from the Courtauld Collection, Graves Art Gallery, Sheffield, 29/10/1977-11/12/1977; Wolverhampton Art Gallery, Wolverhampton, 17/12/1977-28/01/1978; Bolton Museum and Art Gallery, Bolton, 04/02/1978-18/03/1978; Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle, 28/10/1978-10/12/1978; Ferens Art Gallery, Hull, 16/12/1978-28/01/1979; Portsmouth Museum and Art Gallery, Portsmouth, 03/02/1979-18/03/1979
Samuel Courtauld's collection of French 19th century paintings and drawings: a centenary exhibition to commemorate the birth of Samuel Courtauld, Courtauld Institute Galleries, London, 1976
130 Dessins de Matisse, Musée Cantini, Marseille, 1974 (Jun.-Sept.)
Drawings and engravings from the Courtauld Collection, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 1966
Drawings and Engravings from the Courtauld Collection, The Courtauld Gallery, London, December 1959-April 1960
Impressionistes de la Collection Courtauld de Londres, Orangerie, Paris, 1955
Castle Museum, Nottingham, 1939 (April)
Drawings, etchings and lithographs by Henri Matisse, Leicester Galleries, London, 1928 (Jan.) ...Less
Matisse Arabesque, Scuderie del Quirinale, Rome, 04/03/2015-21/06/2015
Mantegna to Matisse - Master Drawings from The Courtauld Gallery, The Frick Collection, New York, 02/10/2012-27/01/2013 ...More
Mantegna to Matisse - Master Drawings from The Courtauld Gallery, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 14/06/2012-09/09/2012
Figure Color Space: Henri Matisse [Figurr Farbe Raum], K20 Kunstsammlung, Nordrhein-Westfallen, Dusseldorf and Fondation Beyeler, Riehen/Basle, 2006
Henri Matisse - Interiors with Women, Kunstsammling Nordhrein-Westfalen, Dusseldorf, Germany, 29/10/2005-19/02/2006
Matisse - Picasso, Museum of Modern Art & New York & USA, 12/02/2003-19/05/2003
Matisse - Picasso, Tate Modern & London & England, 24/04/2002-18/08/2002
The Courtauld Collection: Masterpieces of Impressionism and Post-Impressionism, Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto, 14/06/1998-21/09/1998
The Courtauld Collection, Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, 26/12/1997-12/05/1998
Drawings of Henri Matisse, Hayward Gallery, London, 04/10/1984-06/01/1985
19th and 20th Century Drawings and Prints from the Courtauld Collection, Graves Art Gallery, Sheffield, 29/10/1977-11/12/1977; Wolverhampton Art Gallery, Wolverhampton, 17/12/1977-28/01/1978; Bolton Museum and Art Gallery, Bolton, 04/02/1978-18/03/1978; Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle, 28/10/1978-10/12/1978; Ferens Art Gallery, Hull, 16/12/1978-28/01/1979; Portsmouth Museum and Art Gallery, Portsmouth, 03/02/1979-18/03/1979
Samuel Courtauld's collection of French 19th century paintings and drawings: a centenary exhibition to commemorate the birth of Samuel Courtauld, Courtauld Institute Galleries, London, 1976
130 Dessins de Matisse, Musée Cantini, Marseille, 1974 (Jun.-Sept.)
Drawings and engravings from the Courtauld Collection, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 1966
Drawings and Engravings from the Courtauld Collection, The Courtauld Gallery, London, December 1959-April 1960
Impressionistes de la Collection Courtauld de Londres, Orangerie, Paris, 1955
Castle Museum, Nottingham, 1939 (April)
Drawings, etchings and lithographs by Henri Matisse, Leicester Galleries, London, 1928 (Jan.) ...Less
Literature
Salmon, Dimitri, Percy Moore Turner, Précieux Conseiller de Samuel and Elizabeth Courtauld, Fondation Louis Vuitton 2019
pp. 23, 33n151, 34n155, 36, 37n166, no. 18 on p. 70, fig. 11 (unpaginated, image of a document)
illus. no. 18 on p. 70 and illus. no. 21 (unpaginated)
Serres, Karen (ed.), The Courtauld Collection: A Vision for Impressionism, Paul Holberton Publishing 2019
no. 84, pp. 322-323
illus. p. 323
Matisse Arabesque, Scuderie del Quirinale, Rome, 2015
cat. no. 17
p. 238
illus. p. 72 ...More
Mantegna to Matisse - Master Drawings from The Courtauld Gallery, Frick Collection, New York and Courtauld Gallery, London London 2012-2013
pp. 262-65
Figure Color Space: Henri Matisse, K20 Kunstsammlung, Nordrhein-Westfallen, Dusseldorf and Fondation Beyeler, Riehen/Basle, 2006
cat. no. 81
pp. 50, 373
illus. p. 167
Millet to Matisse: nineteenth- and twentieth-century French painting from Kelvingrove Art Gallery, Glasgow New Haven and London 2003
p. 122 under no. 36
illus. no. 36.1
The Courtauld Collection: Masterpieces of Impressionism and Post-Impressionism, Art Gallery of Ontario, 1998
cat. no. 75
illus. p. 134
Dauberville, Guy-Patrice and Michel, Matisse: Henri Matisse chez Bernheim-Jeuene, Paris 1995
no. 341
John House, Impressionism for England: Samuel Courtauld as Patron and Collector, Courtauld Institute Galleries 1994
no. 103
illus. p. 216
Drawings of Henri Matisse, Hayward Gallery, London, 1984-1985
cat. no. 53
pp. 78, no. 53 on p. 264
illus. p. 176
Drawings from the Courtauld, Graves Art Gallery, Sheffield; Wolverhampton Art Gallery; Bolton Museum and Art Gallery; Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle; Ferens Art Gallery, Hull; Ports, 1977-79
cat. no. 45
no. 45 on p. 31
illus. p. 24
130 Dessins de Matisse, Musee Cantini, Marseille, Jun.-Sept. 1974
cat. no. 25
Drawings and engravings from the Courtauld Collection, Courtauld Institute Galleries, London, 1966
cat. no. 53
Drawings and engravings from the Courtauld Collection, Courtauld Institute Galleries, London, Dec. 1959 - Apr. 1960, 1959-1960
cat. no. 4
Impressionistes de la Collection Courtauld de Londres, Orangerie, Paris, 1955
cat. no. 84
illus. pl. 89
Cooper, Douglas, The Courtauld Collection, London 1954
no. 142 ...Less
pp. 23, 33n151, 34n155, 36, 37n166, no. 18 on p. 70, fig. 11 (unpaginated, image of a document)
illus. no. 18 on p. 70 and illus. no. 21 (unpaginated)
Serres, Karen (ed.), The Courtauld Collection: A Vision for Impressionism, Paul Holberton Publishing 2019
no. 84, pp. 322-323
illus. p. 323
Matisse Arabesque, Scuderie del Quirinale, Rome, 2015
cat. no. 17
p. 238
illus. p. 72 ...More
Mantegna to Matisse - Master Drawings from The Courtauld Gallery, Frick Collection, New York and Courtauld Gallery, London London 2012-2013
pp. 262-65
Figure Color Space: Henri Matisse, K20 Kunstsammlung, Nordrhein-Westfallen, Dusseldorf and Fondation Beyeler, Riehen/Basle, 2006
cat. no. 81
pp. 50, 373
illus. p. 167
Millet to Matisse: nineteenth- and twentieth-century French painting from Kelvingrove Art Gallery, Glasgow New Haven and London 2003
p. 122 under no. 36
illus. no. 36.1
The Courtauld Collection: Masterpieces of Impressionism and Post-Impressionism, Art Gallery of Ontario, 1998
cat. no. 75
illus. p. 134
Dauberville, Guy-Patrice and Michel, Matisse: Henri Matisse chez Bernheim-Jeuene, Paris 1995
no. 341
John House, Impressionism for England: Samuel Courtauld as Patron and Collector, Courtauld Institute Galleries 1994
no. 103
illus. p. 216
Drawings of Henri Matisse, Hayward Gallery, London, 1984-1985
cat. no. 53
pp. 78, no. 53 on p. 264
illus. p. 176
Drawings from the Courtauld, Graves Art Gallery, Sheffield; Wolverhampton Art Gallery; Bolton Museum and Art Gallery; Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle; Ferens Art Gallery, Hull; Ports, 1977-79
cat. no. 45
no. 45 on p. 31
illus. p. 24
130 Dessins de Matisse, Musee Cantini, Marseille, Jun.-Sept. 1974
cat. no. 25
Drawings and engravings from the Courtauld Collection, Courtauld Institute Galleries, London, 1966
cat. no. 53
Drawings and engravings from the Courtauld Collection, Courtauld Institute Galleries, London, Dec. 1959 - Apr. 1960, 1959-1960
cat. no. 4
Impressionistes de la Collection Courtauld de Londres, Orangerie, Paris, 1955
cat. no. 84
illus. pl. 89
Cooper, Douglas, The Courtauld Collection, London 1954
no. 142 ...Less
Inscriptions
Watermark: Recto: right lower edge: "1912 ENGLAND".
Inscription: Recto: upper right corner, graphite, signed: “Henri - Matisse”. Verso: lower right edge, blue crayon: “10”; lower right corner, graphite, erased and mostly illegible: “34 […] / 46 x 35 […]”.
Collector's mark: none.
Inscription: Recto: upper right corner, graphite, signed: “Henri - Matisse”. Verso: lower right edge, blue crayon: “10”; lower right corner, graphite, erased and mostly illegible: “34 […] / 46 x 35 […]”.
Collector's mark: none.
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