Portrait of a Woman

Provenance

Where it has been

1. 1891 –
   (Paris salon, 1891, no. 874 or 875, probably sold to a private collector)
   high confidenceCleveland Museum of Art

   “(Paris salon, 1891, no. 874 or 875, probably sold to a private collector) (1891) [notes: The consignor of the painting to the sale at Christie’s in 1971 believed that it had been purchased directly from the artist, quite possibly at the Salon of 1891. The painting’s original frame is inscribed with “Salon de 1891,” and its presence is confirmed in a contemporary descriptive account of exhibited Aman-Jean paintings at the Salon: “Combien je préfère…les deux portraits de M. Aman Jean! Celui surtout de la jeune femme en noir, qui tient un bouquet de clématites, est d’une mélancolie communicative, d’un deuil attendrissant qui le gravent dans le souvenir, d’autant plus que le sentiment sincere et profound en est sontenu par un arrangement des couleurs, dans la gamme des tons de deuil, très habile et très soigné.”  However, because both nos. 874 and 875 in the exhibition catalogue are titled “Portrait” and neither is reproduced, either may be the CMA painting. ]”

2. Probably from 1891 –
   Possibly a private collector, probably sold to an Italian private collector.
   purchase
   high confidenceCleveland Museum of Art

   “Possibly a private collector, probably sold to an Italian private collector. (Probably from 1891)”

3. After 1891 –
   Private collector, Italy, by descent to his family
   purchase
   high confidenceCleveland Museum of Art

   “Private collector, Italy, by descent to his family (After 1891) [notes: Christie’s files indicate that an “Italian gentleman” purchased the painting from someone, probably a private co]”

4. Before 1971 –
   Family of an Italian collector, possibly consigned to Christie's
   inheritance
   high confidenceCleveland Museum of Art

   “Family of an Italian collector, possibly consigned to Christie's (Before 1971) [notes: The correspondence concerning this painting's provenance prior to the 1971 Christie's sale is somewhat unclear in its description of the chain of ownership.  It seems that the Aman-Jean was likely consigned to Christie's by a descendent of the Italian collector who acquired the painting in the late ninteenth century; however, it is also possible that an unidentified collector was the consignor and should follow the Italian family in the provenance.]”

5. 1971 –
   (Christie's, London, sale, July 9, 1971, lot 258, sold to Ferrers Gallery
   high confidenceCleveland Museum of Art

   “(Christie's, London, sale, July 9, 1971, lot 258, sold to Ferrers Gallery (1971) [notes: In the auction catalogue, the painting is titled “Meditation.”]”

6. 1971 – 1971/1972
   (Ferrers Gallery, London, probably sold to Cyril Humphris)
   purchase
   high confidenceCleveland Museum of Art

   “(Ferrers Gallery, London, probably sold to Cyril Humphris) (1971-1971/1972) [notes: The price list for the July 9, 1971 Christie's sale notes that Ferrers Gallery was the buyer of the Aman-Jean painting.]”

7. Until 1972 –
   (Cyril Humphris, London, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art)
   purchase
   high confidenceCleveland Museum of Art

   “(Cyril Humphris, London, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art) (Until 1972)”

8. 1972 –
   The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, Ohio
   purchase
   high confidenceCleveland Museum of Art

   “The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, Ohio (1972-)”