Provenance

Bellier [probably Alphonse Bellier], Paris, by 1946 [1]; with Sam Salz, New York, to June 1949; sold to Louis E. Stern, New York, June 20, 1949 [2]; bequest to PMA, 1963. 1. Information from Tuchman, Catalogue Raisonné. According to Luc Bellier of Galerie Bellier, Paris (communication dated March 13, 2003), the painting may have simply been auctioned by his grandfather Alphonse, a well-known auctioneer who founded the Bellier auction house c. 1919 and organized Hôtel Drouot auctions along with Jos Hessel of Bernheim-Jeune. Alternatively, the painting may have been part of Alphonse Bellier's personal collection; several Bonnards in the exhibition "Pierre Bonnard: Centenaire de sa naissance" (Paris and Munich, 1966-1967) are attributed to the collection of Alphonse Bellier. 2. Copy of dated receipt from Salz in curatorial file.