The Green Vase
Framed: 37 × 30 1/2 × 2 1/2 inches (93.98 × 77.47 × 6.35 cm)
- 127
Probably Pastels et peintures d’Odilon Redon, Galeries Durand-Ruel, Paris, March 12–26, 1903, no. 14, as Vase de fleurs .
19th and 20th Century Masters and Selected Old Masters: 1994
, Thomas Gibson Fine Art Ltd, London, May–June 1994, as Le Vase Vert.
The International Fine Art Fair
, Booth 26 (Thomas Gibson Fine Art Ltd), New York, May 12–16, 1995.
Manet to Matisse: Impressionist Masters from the Marion and Henry Bloch
Collection
, The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, MO, June 9–September 9,
2007, no. 27, as The Green Vase (Le vase vert).
Best known as a painter of dream-like, often darkly themed subjects, Odilon Redon produced hundreds of brilliantly colored floral still lifes in the last 16 years of his life. Although seemingly a simple painting of a bouquet of flowers, the vase hovering in space and the powdery surface place the subject somewhere between dream and reality. Redon was closely associated with the Symbolist movement and its fascination with the subconscious and the imaginary.
Monsieur de Pompidor, near Montpellier, probably by March 12, 1903 [1];
By descent to his daughter, near Montpellier, by 1945;
Inherited by an unknown private collector, near Montpellier and near Lausanne, by 1945–1993 [2];
Purchased from the latter through Julian Barran Ltd, Bath, England, by
Thomas Gibson Fine Art Ltd., London, November 3, 1993–July 18, 1995 [3];
Purchased from Thomas Gibson Fine Art Ltd. by Marion (née Helzberg, 1931–2013) and Henry (1922–2019) Bloch, Shawnee Mission, KS, July 18, 1995–June 15, 2015;
Their gift to The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, MO, 2015.
NOTES:
[1] A collector identified as “M. Pompidor” lent a painting titledVase de fleurs to the exhibition Pastels et peintures d’Odilon Redon, Galeries Durand-Ruel, Paris, March 12–26, 1903, no. 14. The loaned work was likely The Green Vase; see email from Sophie Pietri, Wildenstein-Plattner Institute, to Brigid M. Boyle, NAMA, January 13, 2021, NAMA curatorial files. Little is known about Monsieur de Pompidor, but he is thought to have solicited advice from French painter Gustave Fayet (1865–1925) when building his collection; see email from Aphrodite O’Sullivan, Thomas Gibson Fine Art Ltd, to Nicole Myers, NAMA, April 27, 2015, NAMA curatorial files.
[2] According to British appraiser and dealer Julian Barran, “the collector inherited the work from the late daughter of de Pompidor, and moved with the collection after the Second World War to Switzerland,” suggesting that The Green Vase belonged to him by 1945. This information was relayed secondhand in an email from Aphrodite O’Sullivan, Thomas Gibson Fine Art Ltd, to Nicole Myers, NAMA, April 28, 2015, NAMA curatorial files.
Barran’s account conflicts with the Redon catalogue raisonné, which claims that The Green Vase belonged to an anonymous collector in Sutherland, Scotland, from circa 1920 to 1995; see Alec Wildenstein and Agnès Lacau St. Guily, Odilon Redon: Catalogue raisonné de l’œuvre peint et dessiné, vol. 3, Fleurs et paysages (Paris: Wildenstein Institute, 1996), no. 1440, p. 69. This latter provenance is likely erroneous, however. See emails from Aphrodite O’Sullivan, Thomas Gibson Fine Art Ltd, to Nicole Myers, NAMA, April 27 and 28, 2015; and email from Sophie Pietri, Wildenstein-Plattner Institute, to Brigid M. Boyle, NAMA, January 13, 2021, NAMA curatorial files.
[3] For dates of ownership, see email from Thomas Gibson, Thomas Gibson Fine Art Ltd, to Nicole Myers, NAMA, April 27, 2015, NAMA curatorial files. Barran’s client consigned The Green Vase to him shortly before he facilitated the sale to Gibson; see email from Julian Barran, Julian Barran Ltd, to Brigid M. Boyle, NAMA, February 3, 2021, NAMA curatorial files.
Probably Pastels et peintures d’Odilon Redon, exh. cat. (Paris: Galeries Durand-Ruel, 1903), as Vase de fleurs.
Probably Donald E. Gordon, Modern Art Exhibitions, 1900–1916: Selected Catalogue Documentation , vol. 2 (Munich: Prestel-Verlag, 1974), 64, as Vase de fleurs.
19th and 20th Century Masters and Selected Old Masters: 1994 , exh. cat. (London: Thomas Gibson Fine Art, 1994), 16–17, (repro.), as Le Vase Vert.
The International Fine Art Fair: Paintings, Drawings, Sculpture, Renaissance through Impressionism , exh. cat. (London: Thomas Gibson Fine Art, 1995), as Le Vase Vert.
Alec Wildenstein and Agnès Lacau St. Guily, Odilon Redon: Catalogue raisonné de l’œuvre peint et dessiné, vol. 3, Fleurs et paysages (Paris: Wildenstein Institute, 1996), no. 1440, pp. 7, 68–69, 333, 412, (repro.), as Le Vase Vert and Vase de fleurs.
Rebecca Dimling Cochran and Bobbie Leigh, “100 Top Collectors who have made a difference,” Art and Antiques 28, no. 3 (March 2006): 90.
Bobbie Leigh, “Magnificent Obsession,” Art and Antiques 28, no. 6 (June 2006): 61.
Alice Thorson, “A Tiny Renoir Began Impressive Obsession,”Kansas City Star 127, no. 269 (June 3, 2007): E5, as The Green Vase.
“Lasting Impressions: A Tribute to Marion and Henry Bloch,” Member Magazine (The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art) (Fall 2007): 11–12.
Steve Paul, “Pretty Pictures: Marion and Henry Bloch’s collection of superb Impressionist masters,” Panache 4, no. 3 (Fall 2007): 20.
Richard R. Brettell and Joachim Pissarro, Manet to Matisse: Impressionist Masters from the Marion and Henry Bloch Collection , exh. cat. (Kansas City, MO: Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, 2007), 11, 138–41, 162, (repro.), as The Green Vase (Le vase vert).
Alice Thorson, “Blochs add to Nelson treasures,” Kansas City Star 130, no. 141 (February 5, 2010): A1.
Carol Vogel, “O! Say, You Can Bid on a Johns,” New York Times 159, no. 54,942 (February 5, 2010): C26.
Thomas M. Bloch, Many Happy Returns: The Story of Henry Bloch, America’s Tax Man (Hoboken: John Wiley and Sons, 2011), 174–75.
Diane Stafford, “Bloch Gift to Go for Nelson Upgrade,” Kansas City Star 135, no. 203 (April 8, 2015): A8.
“Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art officially accessions Bloch Impressionist masterpieces,” Artdaily.org (July 25, 2015): http://artdaily.com/news/80246/Nelson-Atkins-Museum-of-Art-officially-accessions-Bloch-Impressionist-masterpieces .
Julie Paulais, “Le Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art reçoit des tableaux impressionnistes en échange de leurs répliques,” Le Journal des arts (July 30, 2015): https://www.lejournaldesarts.fr/patrimoine/le-nelson-atkins-museum-art-recoit-des-tableaux-impressionnistes-en-echange-de-leurs .
Josh Niland, “The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art Acquires a Renowned Collection of Impressionist and Postimpressionist Art,” architecturaldigest.com (July 31, 2015): https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/nelson-atkins-museum-accessions-bloch-art-collection .
Nancy Staab, “Van Gogh is a Go!” 435: Kansas City’s Magazine (September 2015): 76.
“Nelson-Atkins to unveil renovated Bloch Galleries of European Art in winter 2017,” Artdaily.org (July 20, 2016): http://artdaily.com/news/88852/Nelson-Atkins-to-unveil-renovated-Bloch-Galleries-of-European-Art-in-winter-2017- .
“Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art celebrates generosity of Henry Bloch with new acquisition,” Artdaily.org (October 18, 2016): https://artdaily.cc/news/90923/Nelson-Atkins-Museum-of-Art-celebrates-generosity-of-Henry-Bloch-with-new-acquisition#.XnKATqhKiUk .
Catherine Futter et al., Bloch Galleries: Highlights from the Collection of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art (Kansas City, MO: Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, 2016), 113, (repro.), as The Green Vase.
Kelly Crow, “Museum Rewards Donor with Fake Art to Hang at Home,” Wall Street Journal (January 25, 2017): https://www.wsj.com/articles/museum-rewards-donor-with-fake-art-to-hang-at-home-1485370768 .
David Frese, “Bloch savors paintings in redone galleries,” Kansas City Star 137, no. 161 (February 25, 2017): 1A.
Albert Hecht, “Henry Bloch’s Masterpieces Collection to Go On Display at Nelson-Atkins Museum,” Jewish Business News (February 26, 2017): http://jewishbusinessnews.com/2017/02/26/henry-bloch-masterpieces-collection/ .
David Frese, “Inside the Bloch Galleries: An interactive experience,” Kansas City Star 137, no. 169 (March 5, 2017): 4D, (repro.), as The Green Vase.
“Editorial: Thank you, Henry and Marion Bloch,” Kansas City Star (March 7, 2017), http://www.kansascity.com/opinion/editorials/article137040948.html [repr., in “Thank you, Henry and Marion Bloch,” Kansas City Star 137, no. 172 (March 8, 2017): 16A].
Hampton Stevens, “(Not Actually) 12 Things To Do During The Big 12 Tournament,” Flatland: KCPT’s Digital Magazine (March 9, 2017): http://www.flatlandkc.org/arts-culture/sports/not-actually-12-big-12-tournament/ .
Laura Spencer, “The Nelson-Atkins’ Bloch Galleries Feature Old Masterworks and New Technology,” KCUR (March 10, 2017): http://kcur.org/post/nelson-atkins-bloch-galleries-feature-old-masterworks-and-new-technology#stream/0 .
Victoria Stapley-Brown, “Nelson-Atkins Museum’s new European art galleries come with a ‘love story,’” Art Newspaper (March 10, 2017): http://theartnewspaper.com/news/museums/nelson-atkins-museum-s-new-european-art-galleries-come-with-a-love-story/ .
Harry Bellet, “Don du ciel pour le Musée Nelson-Atkins,” Le Monde (March 13, 2017): http://www.lemonde.fr/arts/article/2017/03/13/don-du-ciel-pour-le-musee-nelson-atkins_5093543_1655012.html .
Menachem Wecker, “Jewish Philanthropist Establishes Kansas City as Cultural Mecca,” Forward (March 14, 2017): http://forward.com/culture/365264/jewish-philanthropist-establishes-kansas-city-as-cultural-mecca/ [repr. in Menachem Wecker, “Kansas City Collection Is A Chip Off the Old Bloch,” Forward (March 17, 2017): 20–22].
Juliet Helmke, “The Bloch Collection Takes up Residence in Kansas City’s Nelson Atkins Museum,” Blouin ArtInfo International (March 15, 2017): http://www.blouinartinfo.com/news/story/2005267/the-bloch-collection-takes-up-residence-in-kansas-citys .
Louise Nicholson, “How Kansas City got its magnificent museum,” Apollo: The International Art Magazine (April 7, 2017): https://www.apollo-magazine.com/how-kansas-city-got-its-magnificent-museum/ .
Lilly Wei, “Julián Zugazagoitia: ‘Museums should generate interest and open a door that leads to further learning,’” Studio International (August 21, 2017): http://studiointernational.com/index.php/julian-zugazagoitia-director-nelson-atkins-museum-of-art-kansas-city-interview , (repro.), as The Green Vase.
Robert D. Hershey Jr., “Henry Bloch, H&R Block’s cofounder, dies at 96,” Boston Globe (April 23, 2019): https://www3.bostonglobe.com/metro/obituaries/2019/04/23/henry-bloch-block-cofounder/?arc404=true .
Robert D. Hershey Jr., “Henry W. Bloch, Tax-Preparation Pioneer (and Pitchman), Is Dead at 96,” New York Times (April 23, 2019): https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/23/obituaries/henry-w-bloch-dead.html .
Claire Selvin, “Henry Wollman Bloch, Collector and Prominent Benefactor of Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Is Dead at 96,” ArtNews (April 23, 2019): http://www.artnews.com/2019/04/23/henry-bloch-dead-96/ .
Eric Adler and Joyce Smith, “Henry Bloch, co-founder of H&R Block, dies at 96,” Kansas City Star 139, no. 219 (April 24, 2019): 1A.
“Henry Wollman Bloch (1922–2019),” Artforum (April 24, 2019): https://www.artforum.com/news/henry-wollman-bloch-1922-2019-79547 .
Frank Morris, “Henry Bloch, Co-Founder Of H&R Block, Dies At 96,” NPR (April 24, 2019): https://www.npr.org/2019/04/24/716641448/henry-bloch-co-founder-of-h-r-block-dies-at-96 .
Ignacio Villarreal, “Nelson-Atkins mourns loss of Henry Bloch,” ArtDaily.org (April 24, 2019): http://artdaily.com/news/113035/Nelson-Atkins-mourns-loss-of-Henry-Bloch#.XMB76qR7laQ .
Eric Adler and Joyce Smith, “H&R Block co-founder, philanthropist Bloch dies,” Cass County Democrat Missourian 140, no. 29 (April 26, 2019): 1A.
Eric Adler and Joyce Smith, “KC businessman and philanthropist Henry Bloch dies,” Lee’s Summit Journal 132, no. 79 (April 26, 2019): 1A.
Luke Nozicka, “Family and friends remember Henry Bloch of H&R Block,” Kansas City Star 139, no. 225 (April 30, 2019): 4A [repr., in Luke Nozicka, “Family and friends remember Henry Bloch of H&R Block,” Kansas City Star 139, no. 228 (May 3, 2019): 3A].
Eric Adler, “Sold for $3.25 million, Bloch’s home in Mission Hills may be torn down,” Kansas City Star 141, no. 90 ( December 16, 2020): 2A.
Kirsten Marples, “Odilon Redon, The Green Vase, ca. 1900,” catalogue entry in French Paintings and Pastels, 1600–1945: The Collections of The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, ed. Aimee Marcereau DeGalan (Kansas City: The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, 2022), https://doi.org/10.37764/78973.5.720.5407.
