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Impressionist & Modern Art
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3220 MAURICE DENIS(Granville1870 - 1943 Saint-Germain-en-
Laye)
Vue de la Villa Balestra. 1928.
Oil on canvas.
Signed and dated lower right:
MAV. DENIS 28.
40 x 56 cm.
This work will be included in the Catalogue
raisonné edited by Claire Denis and Fabi-
enne Stahl, under the number 928.0025.
Provenance:
- Estate of the artist.
- Bernadette Denis, Saint-Germain-en-
Laye.
- Dr. Robert Duroquet, Septeuil.
- Christie's London, Duroquet Collection,
28 November 1972, lot 154.
- Galerie Kurt Meissner, Zurich.
- Private collection, Switzerland (acquiered
from the above gallery).
Exhibitions:
- Paris 1929, Maurice Denis. Galerie Druet,
no. 19.
- Paris 1930, Peintres actuels. Galerie
Charpentier, no. 25.
- Paris 1933, Maurice Denis. Galerie Char-
pentier, no. 19.
- Paris 1941, Maurice Denis. Galerie Carré,
no. 21.
- Zurich 1973, Galerie Kurt Meissner.
Villa Balestra is on the Via Flamina in Rome,
slightly above Villa Strohl Fern, which be-
longed to the French state and where stu-
dios were made available to artists. In 1928
Maurice Denis was on one of his many
journeys to the capital city of Catholicism
which he held in such high esteem.
There is a preparatory drawing of this view
in Maurice Denis’ sketch book. It beauti-
Preparatory study for the painting. ©Catalogue Maurice Denis.
fully exemplifies his style of working. He
did not always convert these sketches into
paintings on the spot, but often worked
on them in his studio in Saint-Germain-
en-Laye. For Denis, who is also considered
the most consistent of all the Nabis, the
direct rendering of what was seen, was not
essential in any case. Throughout his life
he adhered to the principles of this artist
group, which we can see in the typical two-
dimensionality of this fine landscape.
CHF 20 000 / 30 000
(€ 18 520 / 27 780)