HENRI MATISSE | Nu couché

Waddington Custot Galleries, London (acquired directly from the artist's Estate)
Ann Jellicoe & Roger Mayne, Dorset (acquired from the above in the 1960s)
Thence by descent to the present owner

Executed on white wove paper, not laid down, attached to a card mount along the verso of all four edges and floating in the overmount. The edges are deckled and there are two watermarks visible in the upper left and right corners. There are two artist's pinholes to the centre of the upper edge and some very minor handling marks in places. There are a few faint spots of foxing to the background in places. This work is in very good overall condition.
"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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Roger Mayne and Ann Jellicoe were leading figures in their respective worlds of photography and theatre, emerging as individuals who in their own unique ways influenced a post-war generation of photographers and theatre directors. Jellicoe was a forward-thinking director and playwright, whose innovative ideas on theatre were considered to be ahead of their time. Roger Mayne worked as a freelance journalist for the Sunday Times, Vogue, Queen, and New Left Review, and many of his portrait shots are now held in the National Gallery. He is best known for his candid photographs depicting post-war Britain: his most celebrated works are of Southam Street, London taken between 1956 and 1961 which document daily life on the street. These works are considered one of the most important photographic records of city life in 1950s Britain and his photographs are held in museum collections around the world. 

The authenticity of this work has been confirmed by Marguerite Duthuit.