Roger de La Fresnaye
The Fourteenth of July

Public Domain

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Artist Roger de La Fresnaye(French, 1885–1925)French, 1885–1925

CultureFrench

Titles

The Fourteenth of July

Date1914

PlaceFrance

MediumOil on canvas

Dimensions28 1/4 × 38 1/4 in. (71.7 × 97.1 cm)

Credit LineJohn A. and Audrey Jones Beck Collection, gift of Audrey Jones Beck

Object number75.26

Current Location

The Audrey Jones Beck Building

226 Beck Galleries

On view

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Department

European Art, Beck Collection

Special Collections

Object Type

PAINTING

ProvenanceMarcel Kapferer (1872–1966), Paris, after 1928, by March 1931 [1]; [Charles Girard (1884–1968), Paris, by February 1947] [2]; [purchased by Roland Balay (Paris, 1902–New York, 2004), Paris, in partnership with Jacques Seligmann & Co., New York, June 1948] [3]; purchased by Jerome Hill (Saint Paul, 1905–New York, 1972), Soda Springs, California, 26 May 1950 [4]; [sold by his estate, Christie’s, London, “Modern Paintings from the Collection of Jerome Hill,” 2 December 1974, lot 21] [5]; [likely purchased by Fourcade, Droll, Inc., New York, 1974]; purchased by Audrey Jones Beck, Houston, 1975 [6]; given to MFAH, 1975.

[1] An informal inventory of Kapferer’s collection, dated 20 January 1928, in the Jacques Seligmann records at the Archives of American Art, does not include the de la Fresnaye. Box 395, Folder 13: Kapferer, Marcel, 1928-1930. Jacques Seligmann & Co. records, 1904-1978, bulk 1913-1974, Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. Kapferer is first listed as the owner in the March 1931 exhibition at Reid & Lefevre, London.

[2] Galerie Charles Girard opened by 1926, was closed between 1935 and 1945, and reopened in 1946 until 1960. The 1948 correspondence from Roland Balay to Germain Seligman suggests that the painting was no longer in Kapferer’s collection at that time. Balay, Roland, 1939-1952, Box 12, Folder 12. 1.3: General Correspondence, 1913-1978, Jacques Seligmann & Co. records, 1904-1978, bulk 1913-1974, Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.

[3] Roland Balay was the grandson of Michael Knoedler, who founded his gallery in Paris in 1846. Balay worked in the London and Paris branches of Knoedler & Co. before joining the staff of the New York gallery in 1922. He returned to Paris around 1930 and worked independently until he rejoined Knoedler in the 1950s. In September 1948, through Balay, Jacques Seligmann acquired a half share of the painting which was assigned inventory number: 7710. Beginning in mid-October, Seligman offered the painting to a number of important modern art collectors, the first of which was Alfred Barr of the Museum of Modern Art. 7.3: Price Quote Notebooks, 1935-1970. Box 296, Folder 3: Notebook I, 1935-1949. Jacques Seligmann & Co. records, 1904-1978, bulk 1913-1974, Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.

[4] Germain Seligman, “Merchants of Art: 1880–1960; Eighty Years of Professional Collecting,” (New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts, Inc., 1961), unnum. pl. (opp. p. 198), illus. in b/w. The credit line provides the provenance, omitting Galerie Girard and Balay.

[5] The buyer at auction is listed as “S. Hahn.” This might be an agent.

[6] Fourcade, Droll Inc. invoice is dated 21 March 1975. MFAH Object file (confirmed by Julia May Boddewyn, 1 December 2024).

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