Thérèse Dreaming

Balthus (Balthasar Klossowski)  (French, Paris 1908–2001 Rossinière)

Date:
1938
Medium:
Oil on canvas
Dimensions:
H. 59, W. 51 inches (150 x 130 cm.)
Classification:
Paintings
Credit Line:
Jacques and Natasha Gelman Collection, 1998
Accession Number:
1999.363.2
Rights and Reproduction:
© 2011 Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York
  • Description

    With closed eyes, Balthus's pubescent model is lost in thought. Thérèse Blanchard, who was about twelve or thirteen at the time this picture was made, and her brother Hubert were neighbors of Balthus in Paris. She appears alone, with her cat, or with her brother in a series of eleven paintings done between 1936 and 1939.

  • Provenance

    [Pierre Matisse Gallery, New York, 1938–51]; The Reverend James McLane, Los Angeles (from 1951); Louis McLane (until 1979); [Pierre Matisse Gallery, New York, 1979]; Jacques and Natasha Gelman, New York (1979–his d. 1986; her d. 1998)

  • Exhibition History

    New York, 1942, cat. no. 1; New York, 1949, cat. no. 16, ill.; New York, 1956-57, cat. no. 10 ill. p. 19; Cambridge, MA, 1964, cat. no. 10, ill.; London, 1968, cat. no. 12, ill. p. 55; Marseilles, 1973, cat. no. 5, ill.; Paris, 1983-84, cat. no. 14/52, ills. pp. 137, 348; New York 1984, cat. no. 19, ill. p. 93 (as per Gelman Catalogue)

    New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art, December 12,1989 - April 1, 1990. London, England: Royal Academy, April 19 - July 15, 1990. "Gelman Collection" (illus. in color, p. 203, discussed pp. 201 - 202).

    Martigny, Suisse: Foundation Pierre Gianadda, 18 juin-1 novembre 1994. ¦de Matisse à Picasso: Collection Jacques et Natasha Gelman¦, Rédaction du catalogue: William S. Lieberman, Auteur du catalogue: Sabine Rewald, Textes de: Dawn Ades, John Ashbery, Jacques Dupin, John Golding, Lawrence Gowing, William S. Lieberman, Philippe de Montebello, Pierre Schneider et Gary Tinterow. p. 227 (illus. in color).

    Cologne, Germany: Museum Ludwig, August 18-November 4, 2007,
    Balthus.

    Martigny, Switzerland: Fondation Pierre Gianadda, June 13-November 19, 2008.
    Exposition Balthus, pg. 117, cat. 43.

  • References

    Bonnefoy, 1980, p. 49; Leymarie, 1982, ill. p. 130; Klossowski de Rola, 1983, pl. 22; Dauriac, 1984, ill. p. 186; Micha, 1984, ill. p. 6; Rewald 1984, fig. 67, p. 41, ill. p. 42. (as per Gelman Catalogue)

  • See also
    Who
    What
    Where
    When
    In the Museum
    Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History
    MetPublications
210010216

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