Galleries Maurice Sternberg, Chicago (and sold: The Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Minneapolis, November 13, 1976, lot 72)
Private Collection, Minnesota (acquired at the above sale)
Thence by descent

The work is in excellent condition. The canvas has not been lined. It is very gently buckled on its stretcher toward the bottom right corner and slight frame abrasion is visible to the extreme left edge. The colors appear fresh and vibrant and the impasto has been very well preserved. Under UV light: dark red and blue pigments fluoresce but no inpainting is apparent.
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

In 1910, after searching for the ideal house for almost ten years, Martin finally acquired Marquayrol, a beautiful mansion overlooking Labastide-du-Vert near Cahors in southwest France. The house and the region became his main sources of inspiration and deeply influenced his style. It was here that the artist found the important southern light which stimulated and fulfilled his artistic needs. Claude Juskiewenski has suggested that "this move to the Lot at the age of forty marks a decisive turning point in his artistic output. Muses and lyres disappear from his canvases and he dares to confront daily the light of the south" (Claude Juskiewenski, Henri Martin 1860-1943 (exhibition catalogue), Musée Henri Martin, Cahors & Capitole, Toulouse, 1993, p. 98).

Bassin et tonnelle sud-ouest de Marquayrolles is a superb example of Martin's signature style of dynamic brushwork suspended within a rigorously structured composition. As noted by Martin's son and fellow artist, Jac Martin-Ferrières, "Henri Martin's palette is enchanting. Many different combinations of colours are juxtaposed to create a lush harmony...and it is much more difficult to achieve beautiful colour combinations when representing nature than to simply assemble some pretty colours while representing nothing. Herein lies the gift of the great Impressionists and that is why there are so few" (Jacques Martin-Ferrières, Henri Martin, Paris, 1967, p. 42).