Pierre Bonnard

Jeanne Bucher, Paris
M. Knoedler & Co., Inc., New York
Dorothy and Richard Rodgers (acquired from the above in 1951 and sold: Christie's, New York, November 11, 1992, lot 11)

Hartford, Wadsworth Atheneum, The Music Makers, 1959, p. 6, no. 1, illustrated pl. III

Jean et Henry Dauberville, Bonnard Catalogue raisonné de l'oeuvre peint, 1920-1939, Paris, 1973, vol. III, no. 1082, illustrated p. 94

Original canvas. Under UV light, no inpainting is apparent.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The present work comes from the collection of Richard Rodgers, the composer who together with lyricist Oscar Hammerstein created the golden years of the Broadway musical with a string of hits such as Oklahoma!, The King and I and the Sound of Music. Rodgers received Pulitzers, Tonys, Oscars, Grammys and Emmys during his lifetime, and wrote more than 900 published songs and 40 Broadway musicals in the course of a remarkable career. He and his wife Dorothy, an interior designer, shared a passion for music, art and beautiful surroundings. Their elegant homes in Connecticut and Park Avenue reflected a mutual love of Impressionist and Modern Art, and this work is a testament to the considered taste with which they created their collection.