HENRI MATISSE INSCRIBES HIS PHOTO TO VOLLARD’S PROTEGE
MATISSE HENRI: (1869-1954) French Artist. Rare signed and inscribed printed 9.5 x 12 photograph by Matisse. Signed `Henri Matisse´ in bold black ink to the white lower border above his printed full name. Also dated 28th July 1939 in his own hand. Matisse has inscribed this beautifuland iconic photo to `Monsieur Chlomovitch´. Erich Slomovic aka Chlomovitch (1915-1942) was a Yugoslavian Jewish art Collector. Slomovic was personal secretary and protégé of one of the most important art dealers of the 20th century Ambroise Vollard. When Vollard died in 1939, at the time of Nazi invasion of France, Slomovic left over 200 artworks in a bank vault in Paris and shipped the rest to Belgrade. Slomovic died in a concentration camp, a victim of holocaust at the very early age of 27. In 1979 the French bank opened the vault with the artworks, including paintings of Renoir and Matisse. The legal dispute of the ownership is still ongoing.