Paul Ranson
Apple Tree with Red Fruit

Public Domain

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Artist Paul Ranson (French, 1864–1909)French, 1864–1909

CultureFrench

Titles

Apple Tree with Red Fruit

Datec. 1900

PlaceFrance

MediumOil on canvas

Dimensions33 1/2 × 46 3/4 in. (85.1 × 118.7 cm)
Frame: 41 1/2 × 55 1/4 × 4 1/4 in. (105.4 × 140.3 × 10.8 cm)

Credit LineJohn A. and Audrey Jones Beck Collection, museum purchase funded by Audrey Jones Beck

Object number98.248

Current Location

The Audrey Jones Beck Building

225 Beck Galleries

On view

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Department

European Art, Beck Collection

Special Collections

Object Type

PAINTING

ProvenanceDr. P[aul]. Blondin (1876–1930), Paris, commissioned from the artist, c. 1902 [1]; Sylvain Blondin (Paris, 1901–Neuilly-sur-Seine, 1975), Paris, by descent, 1930; Mme. Sylvain Blondin (likely Madeleine Simon, m. 1949), Paris, by descent, 1975 [2]; [Christie’s, New York, “Impressionist and Modern Paintings and Sculptures (Part II),” May 12, 1988, lot 216, illus. on cover] [3]; purchased by Arthur G. Altschul (New York, NY, 1920–Centre Island, NY, 2002), New York, 1988 [4]; [likely sold by him at Christie’s, London, “Impressionist and Modern Paintings and Sculpture,” December 4, 1990, lot 281; bought in] [5]; [possibly sold by him at Christie’s, London, “20th Century Art,” 20 May 1998, lot 10]; purchased by Mrs. Audrey Jones Beck, Houston, for MFAH, 1998; given to MFAH, 1998.

[1] Dr. Paul Marie Blondin married Ranson’s sister-in-law (the artist’s wife’s sister) Caroline Berthe Rousseau (1869–1950) in January 1901. Their son, Dr. Sylvain Charles Blondin, was the lender of the painting to the 1949–50 Paris exhibition. Bitker and Genty (1999), 318; Geneanet.org. https://gw.geneanet.org/fond33?n=blondin&oc=&p=sylvain (Accessed by Julia May Boddewyn, 8 October 2024).

[2] Though “Mme. Sylvain Blondin, Paris” is identified by Christie’s as the artist’s niece, she was technically the wife of his nephew. Sylvain Blondin was married twice but presumably this refers to his second wife, Madeleine Josèphe Elisabeth Hortense Simon (dates unknown; m. 1949). [first wife was Denise Decourdemanche (m. 1928)].

[3] Mme. Sylvain Blondin is listed as the former owner of the three related Ranson paintings sold at Christie’s, New York, 12 May 1988, lots 216–18. This suggests that she was not the seller.

[4] Based on the label on the strainer that bears his name, Arthur G. Altschul was a former owner of the MFAH painting. He is known to have also owned the two companion paintings: Poissons and Crustacés, c. 1902. The two were later sold as a single lot at Christie’s, London, 9 December 1998, lot 216, and Altschul is included in the provenance. “Arthur G. Altschul, 81, Banker, Art Collector and Philanthropist,” New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2002/03/20/nyregion/arthur-g-altschul-81-banker-art-collector-and-philanthropist.html?searchResultPosition=1 (Accessed by Julia May Boddewyn, 5 September 2024). The MFAH painting was not included in the 1965 New Haven exhibition of Altschul’s collection of Neo-Impressionists and Nabis so it can be assumed that it was acquired after this date.

[5] The absence of Altschul’s name in the provenance suggests that he was the seller. Because the painting was bought in in 1990, he may have been the seller again in May 1998.

Exhibition HistoryOrangerie des Tuileries, Paris, “Eugène Carrière et le Symbolisme: Exposition en l’honneur du Centenaire de la naissance d’Eugene Carrière,” December 1949–January 1950, no. 252, as “Pommier aux fruits rouges (Décoration de la salle à manger du Dr. P. Blondin),” c. 1902, lent by Dr. Sylvain Blondin, Paris
Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks

Inscription: Labels, verso of backboard: "Collection of Arthur G. Altschu / Paul Ranson / Pommier Aux Fruits Rouges / Appletree and red Fruit / 33 1/4 x 46 5/8 (85 x 118.3) oil on canvas / 625." "Paul Ranson 625 Appletree and Red Fruit." Stamped in black ink: "LOT 10 : 20 /5/98 RX474." Label: "KZ131 / Christies / Ref# MOD NYCDV373 / Line # 3 Dept. MOD."

The painting is signed in the lower right corner in brown: "PJR."

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