CHRISTIE'S UNVEILS A MAJOR PAINTING BY ANDRÉ DERAIN NEVER BEFORE SEEN ON THE MARKET
André Derain, Matisse et Terrus, 1905. Estimate: €2,000,000 – 3,000,000 © Christie’s Images Limited 2024, © ADAGP
Paris – With Matisse and Terrus, painted by Derain in 1905 Christie's France unveils an unknown masterpiece and a pivotal work in the history of the Fauves movement (Estimate €2,000,000 - €3,000,000). This Fauvist gem of exceptional rarity will take center stage in the upcoming evening sale Art Impressioniste & Moderne - Œuvres choisies on April 9th in Paris. Never seen on the market, it has been meticulously preserved for nearly 120 years in the same private collection.
Directly from the collection of Catalan painter Etienne Terrus, who hosted André Derain and Henri Matisse in Collioure during the summer of 1905, Matisse and Terrus marks the friendship between these 3 founding figures of Fauvism.
Most likely gifted to Etienne Terrus shortly after 1905, this artwork celebrates the comradeship between Matisse, Derain, and Terrus, as well as the genesis of Fauvism amidst the picturesque backdrop of Collioure's quaint fishing port and its surroundings.
In 1905, in this village bordering Spain, the two pioneers of the Parisian avant-garde spent the summer, immersed in the unique southern luminosity, surrounded by newfound acquaintances, including Etienne Terrus. During this period André Derain created several vibrant works inspired by the locale. Unlike Matisse, Derain never returned to Collioure turning this unique sojourn into a pivotal moment in his career marking the birth of a revolutionary style premise of modern art.
Matisse and Terrus holds particular significance in Derain's oeuvre from Collioure, for more than its portrayal of tripartite friendship. Few months later, at the 1905 Salon d’Automne in Paris, its bold style and vivid fauvist palette were described as "an orgy of pure tones" giving official birth to one of the major modern art movements.
Seated leisurely on a seaside terrace, likely overlooking the Racou beach near Argelès-sur-Mer, Matisse and Terrus exude an air of relaxation. Matisse, with his distinctive red beard, is depicted on the left, smoking a pipe, while Terrus gazes pensively into the distance on the right.
Captivated by light and colors, Derain gradually eschews lines, and separates color from its descriptive, representational purpose, allowing it to exist on the canvas as an independent and focal element. These thick, sweeping strokes of pure pigment, filled with sensual vitality epitomize the breakthrough towards modernity.
"Christie's France is honored to present Matisse and Terrus, a counterpart to Matisse's renowned portrait housed at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. While both paintings of 1905 depict Matisse seated at the same table, our offering boasts a richer complexity, making it a remarkable find not just for the art market, but for the art history." Valérie Didier, Senior Specialist, Impressionist and Modern art, Head of Evening & Collection Sales.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Art impressionniste & moderne - Œuvres choisies on April 9th at 4 pm
Preview from April 4th to April 9th, 2024
