Owner: MM. Bernheim-Jeune — Paris, France
Collection: (JBernheim-Jeune) Paris region and Rastignac-While most of Josse Bernheim-Jeune's collection was spread out among properties in Paris and Fontainebleau, parts of it were transferred to the Rastignac estate in the Dordogne in southwestern France. On March 30, 1944, a combination of German troops, Georgian irregulars from Paris, SD agents from Perigueux and SS troops descended in the area around Rastignac. The castle was torched. After the war, a surviving witness attested to the fact that the art works had perished even though others attested to the presence of several trucks that left the castle grounds shortly before the fire was set. The fate of the art is unknown.
Inventory No.:
Artist: Pierre Bonnard
Medium: Paintings
Title: Vénus de Cyrène
Description: Grand panneau décoratif servant de trumeau entre la porte du salon et de la salle à manger de l'Hotel particulier de la famille Bernheim-Jeune, rue Desbordes Valmore.
Le panneau représente une tableu avec un vase de fleurs, des livres parmi lesquels on peut lire sur l'un d'eux "Vénus de Cyrène".
30 cm x 125 cm
Literature:
Provenance and Comments: The history of this panel by Bonnard is complicated. It was discovered in Basel in the 1950s and claimed as a wartime loss due to acts of plunder. As far as is known the painting was never returned to the family. See Kunstmuseum Basel
Archival Sources: RA 625, MAEE, Paris, France
Measurements: 30 x 125 cm
Intake place: rue Desbordes-Valmore, Paris
Intake date: 1941-00-00
Transfer place: Beyeler, Basel, Switzerland
Transfer date: 1955-00-00
Transfer place: Kunstmuseum Basel
Transfer date: 1956-00-00
Restituted? No
Images: