The Musée d'Art Moderne in Paris has been gifted an extraordinary and historic collection of 61 works by the legendary artist Henri Matisse. The donation, described by the museum as exceptionally generous, consists of pieces that had remained within the Matisse family until now.
A Family Legacy Unveiled
The remarkable donation was made by Barbara Dauphin Duthuit, the widow of Matisse's grandson, Claude Duthuit. It includes a diverse range of media, from paintings and drawings to etchings, lithographs, and a sculpture. The unifying theme of the collection is Marguerite, the artist's daughter, who served as his favourite subject and muse.
Many of these works were recently on loan to the museum for its Matisse et Marguerite exhibition. However, the decision by Madame Duthuit to permanently gift the collection came as a complete surprise to the institution. This follows her earlier 2013 donation of the famous portrait Marguerite with a Black Cat to the Pompidou Centre.
The Story of Marguerite: Muse and Resistance Hero
Marguerite's life story is as compelling as the portraits she inspired. Born from Matisse's relationship with model Caroline Joblau, she was formally recognised by her father and brought into his family after his marriage. A childhood bout of diphtheria, which required an emergency tracheotomy, left a scar she concealed with high necklines and ribbons—a detail often visible in her portraits until an operation at age 26.
Despite fragile health, Marguerite displayed immense courage during the Second World War. She joined the French Resistance, was captured and tortured by the Gestapo, and faced the threat of deportation to a Nazi concentration camp. After the war, she set aside her own painting career to become her father's dedicated assistant and agent until his death in 1954. She was still cataloguing his vast oeuvre when she died in Paris in 1982.
A New Home for a Priceless Collection
This donation is particularly significant because Matisse famously preferred to keep his work within his family rather than sell it. The 61 new pieces will join the 20 Matisse works already in the museum's possession, solidifying its standing as a key centre for the artist's work.
Fabrice Hergott, the museum's director, praised the donation as an "extraordinarily generous gesture." He stated that the portraits of Marguerite are "extremely beautiful and moving" and that the museum is honoured to become "Marguerite's new home for the decades and centuries to come." This transformative gift ensures that the intimate legacy of Matisse and his daughter will be preserved and shared with the public indefinitely.
