Acquired from the artist 1939
Private Collection, San Francisco
Sale: Butterfield's & Butterfield's, San Francisco, March 17, 1982, lot 530
Lunder Collection, Boston
Thomas Colville, New Haven
Mary-Anne Martin/Fine Art, New York
Private Collection, Paris
Mary-Anne Martin/Fine Art, New York

This painting is still on its original stretcher and unlined. It is clean and probably not varnished. In the upper right, there are half a dozen restorations; two of them are vertical lines possibly addressing scratches, but these marks may be original to the artist himself. Regardless, the remainder of the picture seems to be in beautiful condition. The work should be hung as is. (This condition report has been provided courtesy of Simon Parkes Art Conservation, Inc.)
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.

Niña con Muñeca  is most probably a portrait Rivera did of one of the children in the Rivera household. Children from the household,  Inestita , Julieta and Juanita Rosas were often the favorite models of his more intimate works.

Children held a special place in Rivera’s work – they are  his most direct and un-judgmental works. He could be sarcastic and political about adults but with children, even with commissioned portraits, he let his guard down.

From the beginning of his career he seemed to relate 𓃲to their purity and directness. He portrays them with a tenderness and dignity not always found in his other subjects. Children are all beautiful in his eye, whether rich or poor. Rivera saw children as the future of Mexico and it is this tender optimism that makes this portrait so endearing.