PARIS.- On the occasion of a Marquee Week 20/21 that shines a spotlight on graphic works in Paris, Christie's announced two unprecedented monographic sales in Paris, largely dedicated to works on paper by Pierre Bonnard and Henri Matisse : Dans l'intimité de Pierre Bonnard: Collection Claude Terrasse, to be held on 14 April, and Henri Matisse : tracer le lien, œuvres sur papier de la Fondation Pierre et Tana Matisse, an online sale running from 9 to 17 April.
Directly sourced from circles close to these artists and never seen on the market, these two groups present a rare opportunity to acquire works by Pierre Bonnard and Henri Matisse. With estimates reaching up to €400,000, the two sales are aimed both at established collectors and enthusiasts wishing to begin or enrich their collection.
Claude Terrasse, Composer and Close Friend of Pierre Bonnard
The collection of paintings, gouaches, drawings, illustration projects, and lithographs by Pierre Bonnard that will be presented on April 14 brings together works that have never before been offered for sale, as they come directly from the collection of Claude Terrasse (1925–2008), great-nephew and sole godson of the artist Pierre Bonnard. Claude Terrasse was the grandson of the composer Claude Terrasse (1867–1923) and the son of Dr. Jean Terrasse (1892–1930), who also pursued a musical career as a renowned professor and organist.
Highlight of the sale, Midi au jardin (estimate: €400,000–600,000) perfectly illustrates the role that the villa Le Bosquet and the surrounding landscape of Le Cannet played for Pierre Bonnard, just as Mont Sainte‑Victoire did for Cézanne. Le Bosquet was the place the artist roamed endlessly, studying its infinite variations through the seasons and throughout the day.
In a very different vein, yet equally rare, La Rue. Homme aux prises avec deux chiens (estimate: €250,000–350,000), dating from Bonnard's 'Nabis' period, has no direct equivalent in his oeuvre. The painting embodies the key principles of his art: the subject - a street scene with dogs, both motif and favourite companion of the artist - its low‑angled viewpoint, and the technique of repeated motifs. Bonnard's talent as a colourist also shines through in the vibrant charm of the gouache depicting Marthe in her bathtub (estimate: €150,000–250,000), the final preparatory step for the masterpiece Nu à la baignoire (1931), now in the Centre Pompidou, Paris.
Another major highlight of this unprecedented collection is the selection of works that bear witness to the collaboration and friendship between Claude Terrasse (1867–1923) and Pierre Bonnard. These include Le Petit Solfège created by Claude and illustrated by Bonnard; the childhood pieces Claude composed for piano, titled “Petites scènes familières”, also illustrated by Bonnard (in which the baby depicted is none other than Jean Terrasse); and the magnificent Villa Bach programmes, designed and illustrated by Bonnard for the musical evenings hosted by his sister Andrée and her husband Claude at their home in Arcachon.
This remarkable group offers collectors a truly unique opportunity to acquire works by Bonnard that trace and celebrate the legacy of an entire family.
A unique online sale to benefit the Pierre and Tana Matisse Foundation
Henri Matisse : tracer le lien, brings together online, and for the first time at auction, a group of exceptionals works on paper by Henri Matisse. Preserved for decades by the Pierre and Tana Matisse Foundation, these works come directly from the collection of the gallerist and son of the artist, Pierre Matisse and his wife, Tana. The latter was behind the creation of the oganisation.
This collection spans the full breadth of Matisse's original works on paper and graphic works : studies of nudes, portraits, decorative research, dance drawings, floral motifs, and Mediterranean scenes. Highlights include Femme allongée (estimate: €50,000–70,000), Nu debout (estimate: €40,000–60,000), Odalisque voilée (estimate: €8,000–12,000), as well as a self-portrait (estimate: €1,800–2,500). An etching titled La Danse (estimate: €50,000–70,000) echoes the work on view in the permanent collections of the Musée d'Art Moderne de Paris.
As a charity event, the proceeds from the sale will support the Foundation's initiatives, particularly benefiting underfunded arts organizations that provide services to New York City public schools and community-based organizations. The Foundation supports a broad network of arts nonprofits across all disciplines—including visual arts, theatre, music, and dance—helping young people develop their creativity and encouraging positive self-expression. Since 2003, it has contributed more than 50 million dollars to 800 organizations that provide hundreds of students with access to arts education.
Among these are 826 NYC, which teaches students the power of creative writing; the Brooklyn Arts Exchange (BAX), an intergenerational arts organization that fosters creative expression through education, residencies, and performances at the intersection of the arts and social justice; the Brooklyn Museum, whose mission is to bring people together through art and experiences that inspire celebration, compassion, courage, and a desire to act. The sale will also benefit the Bronx Documentary Center, a community‑oriented educational space whose mission is to use community‑based documentary practices and education to illuminate critical issues, spark critical thinking, and encourage social change; Harlem Stage, an organization that champions the artistic freedom of Global Majority artists who dare to create new works, new ideas, and a new world in which everyone can thrive. Finally, the sale will also support the New Museum of Contemporary Art's NEW Futures Fellowship program, which empowers young immigrants in New York City to become the leaders of tomorrow through the arts.
With works ranging from €800 to €70,000, the sale offers all admirers of Matisse a unique opportunity to acquire a piece of his legacy.
