Stabilimento (Bathing Establishment)

1958
Galleria dell'Obelisco, Rome, Italy [1]

1958
Arthur Jeffress Gallery, London, England

1958 - 1959
Joseph Pulitzer Jr. (1913-1993) and Louise Vauclain Pulitzer (d.1968), St. Louis, MO, USA, purchased from Arthur Jeffress Gallery [2]

1959 -
Saint Louis Art Museum, given by Joseph Pulitzer Jr. and Louise Vauclain Pulitzer [3]


Notes:
[1] This painting was included in an exhibition of Caruso's work which opened in June 1958, the same year it was created, at the Galleria dell'Obelisco in Rome ["Bruno Caruso." Rome: Galleria dell'Obelisco, 1958, cat. 7]. According to this catalogue, the Galleria dell'Obelisco also held earlier solo exhibitions on Caruso in 1953, 1954, and 1956. Immediately following its showing in Rome, the painting was exhibited at the Arthur Jeffress Gallery in London ["Recent Paintings, Drawings and Lithographs by Bruno Caruso." London: Arthur Jeffress (Pictures), September 30 - October 24, 1958, cat. 21].

A letter to the Museum from Gaspero del Corso, director of the Galleria dell'Obelisco, which announces his pleasure that Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Pulitzer Jr. gave the painting to the Museum, states that the picture was bought from Galleria dell'Obelisco by Mr. and Mrs. Pulitzer [letter dated June 1, 1960, SLAM document files]. See note [2].

[2] According to Pulitzer's stock record the painting was acquired on November 4, 1958; the former collection listed is Arthur Jeffress, London [copy, SLAM document files]. The Pulitzers purchased the work just days after the closing of the Caruso exhibition at Arthur Jeffress Gallery (see note [1]). The Museum's accession records also indicate that Mr. and Mrs. Pulitzer purchased the work from Arthur Jeffress Gallery, London, and again, there is no reference to Galleria dell'Obelisco [SLAM document files]. Additionally, an Arthur Jeffress Gallery label on the back of the painting indicates the purchaser as Mr. Joseph Pulitzer Jr. It is possible, however, based on information provided in the letter from Gaspero del Corso (see note [1]), that Arthur Jeffress Galleries had the work on consignment from Galleria dell'Obelisco, and sold it to the Pulitzers for Galleria dell'Obelisco.

[3] Receipt of artwork received of Joseph Pulitzer, Jr., dated December 18, 1959 [SLAM document files]. Minutes of the Administrative Board of Control and the Advisory Committee of the City Art Museum, December 10, 1959.