Madame Valmont
- Date
- c.1841
- Material
- Oil on canvas
- made in
- Cherbourg, Basse-Normandie region, France, Europe
- Classification
- Paintings
- Collection
- Modern and Contemporary Art
- Current Location
- On View, Gallery 206
- Dimensions
- 39 7/8 x 32 1/8 in. (101.3 x 81.6 cm)
framed: 49 5/8 x 42 1/8 in. (126 x 107 cm) - Credit Line
- Museum Purchase
- Rights
- Public Domain
- Object Number
- 76:1954
Provenance
Mr. Heyman, Paris, France, acquired from the artist
by 1911 -
Otto Ackermann (1871-1963), Paris, France; Zurich, Switzerland, purchased from Mr. Heyman [1]
by 1942 -
Hans Bichler-Volkart, Switzerland, purchased from Otto Ackermann [2]
- 1954
Dr. Fritz Nathan (1895-1972), Zurich, Switzerland, purchased from Hans Bichler-Volkart [3]
1954 -
Saint Louis Art Museum, purchased from Dr. Fritz Nathan [4]
Notes:
The main source for this provenance is a letter dated December 21, 1954 from art dealer Peter Nathan (1925-2001) on letterhead from Dr. Fritz Nathan. In it, he relates the known provenance of the painting, "the swiss private collector from whom we bought the painting purchased it years ago from a well known collector in Zurich, Otto Ackermann. Mr. Ackermann bought it from Mr. Heyman, the son in law of Millet, hatter in Paris" [SLAM document files]. Exceptions and other supporting documents are noted.
[1] According to Peter Nathan, Otto Ackermann was a well-known collector in Switzerland. Labels from the reverse of the painting for exhibitions in Rouen and St. Petersburg in 1911 indicate the lender as Ackermann Collection, Paris [SLAM document files].
This painting was included in the Ackermann collection under the title "Comtesse de Valmont a Cherbourg." The Valmonts were a family from Normandy, France. During 1841, the year the portrait was painted, Millet spilt his time between Paris and Cherbourg, France, where this was likely painted [Herbert, Robert. "Barbizon Revisited." Boston: Museum of Fine Arts, 1962, cat. no. 58, p. 149].
[2] Hans Bichler-Volkart is also recorded under the name of Col. H. Bühler in Herbert's publication (see note [1]). Hans Bichler-Volkart loaned the painting to the Kunstmuseum Winterthur in 1942 ["Der Unbekannte Winterthurer Privatbesitz 1500-1900." Winterthur: Kunstverein Winterthur, September - October 1942, cat. 196; label from the reverse of the painting, SLAM document files].
[3] Dr. Fritz Nathan and his son Peter Nathan were art dealers in Zurich. A label from the reverse of the painting reading "Drs. F. u. P. N. / Zch. / Nr. 831 / Millet" indicates that this work was number 831 in the inventory of Drs. Fritz and (und) Peter Nathan, Zurich [SLAM document files]. The invoice dated August 6, 1954, and other correspondence with the dealer is all on Dr. Fritz Nathan letterhead, but is signed by Peter Nathan [SLAM document files].
[4] Minutes of the Administrative Board of Control of the City Art Museum, August 6, 1954.
by 1911 -
Otto Ackermann (1871-1963), Paris, France; Zurich, Switzerland, purchased from Mr. Heyman [1]
by 1942 -
Hans Bichler-Volkart, Switzerland, purchased from Otto Ackermann [2]
- 1954
Dr. Fritz Nathan (1895-1972), Zurich, Switzerland, purchased from Hans Bichler-Volkart [3]
1954 -
Saint Louis Art Museum, purchased from Dr. Fritz Nathan [4]
Notes:
The main source for this provenance is a letter dated December 21, 1954 from art dealer Peter Nathan (1925-2001) on letterhead from Dr. Fritz Nathan. In it, he relates the known provenance of the painting, "the swiss private collector from whom we bought the painting purchased it years ago from a well known collector in Zurich, Otto Ackermann. Mr. Ackermann bought it from Mr. Heyman, the son in law of Millet, hatter in Paris" [SLAM document files]. Exceptions and other supporting documents are noted.
[1] According to Peter Nathan, Otto Ackermann was a well-known collector in Switzerland. Labels from the reverse of the painting for exhibitions in Rouen and St. Petersburg in 1911 indicate the lender as Ackermann Collection, Paris [SLAM document files].
This painting was included in the Ackermann collection under the title "Comtesse de Valmont a Cherbourg." The Valmonts were a family from Normandy, France. During 1841, the year the portrait was painted, Millet spilt his time between Paris and Cherbourg, France, where this was likely painted [Herbert, Robert. "Barbizon Revisited." Boston: Museum of Fine Arts, 1962, cat. no. 58, p. 149].
[2] Hans Bichler-Volkart is also recorded under the name of Col. H. Bühler in Herbert's publication (see note [1]). Hans Bichler-Volkart loaned the painting to the Kunstmuseum Winterthur in 1942 ["Der Unbekannte Winterthurer Privatbesitz 1500-1900." Winterthur: Kunstverein Winterthur, September - October 1942, cat. 196; label from the reverse of the painting, SLAM document files].
[3] Dr. Fritz Nathan and his son Peter Nathan were art dealers in Zurich. A label from the reverse of the painting reading "Drs. F. u. P. N. / Zch. / Nr. 831 / Millet" indicates that this work was number 831 in the inventory of Drs. Fritz and (und) Peter Nathan, Zurich [SLAM document files]. The invoice dated August 6, 1954, and other correspondence with the dealer is all on Dr. Fritz Nathan letterhead, but is signed by Peter Nathan [SLAM document files].
[4] Minutes of the Administrative Board of Control of the City Art Museum, August 6, 1954.
We regularly update records, which may be incomplete. If you have additional information, please contact us at provenance@slam.org.