Lot 63
Kees van Dongen (1877–1968)
Lot 63 Details
Kees van Dongen (1877–1968), Dutch/French
DAHLIAS (ALSO CALLED BOUQUET DE FLEURS)
Oil on panel; signed in red paint lower right, the verso with a wash of oil based colours, titled "Dahlias" to the Dominion Gallery label adhered to the verso
16.25 ins x 13 ins; 41.3 cms x 33 cms
Estimate $100,000-$150,000
Additional Images
Provenance:
Ex. Coll. Dr. and Mrs. Max Stern, Dominion Gallery, Montreal, Inventory No., DON5i gallery label adhered to the verso, acquired directly from the artist in 1953;
Gifted to the Beaverbrook Art Gallery, Fredericton, NB on December 20, 1985, Accession No. 85.25 (with a copy of the document dated 27th March, 1986 and another dated April 14, 1986);
Deaccessioned to benefit art purchases at the Beaverbrook Art Gallery
Note:
This lot is accompanied by copies of the original letters currently housed in the Dominion Gallery/Dr. Max Stern archives at the National Gallery of Canada Library, Ottawa. The letters, written between Dr. Stern and the Beaverbrook Art Gallery, indicate that he purchased "Dahlias" directly from the artist in 1953. This is consistent with other van Dongen paintings that came through the Dominion Gallery.
"Dahlias" was first entered into the DG stock books as "Bouquet de fleurs," oil on panel, 16 1/4" x 13" (C2640), along with four other van Dongen works. It was transferred to Dr. Stern's private collection in 1958.
Stern began donating to Canadian institutions in the mid 1950s, and gave generously to several museums across Canada. He was especially generous to Montreal institutions, donating over 166 works.