Baron d'Olonne, Paris;
With Matthiesen, Ltd., London, by 1956;
With Paul Drey Gallery, New York;
From whom acquired by the present owner;
By whom sold, New York, Sotheby's, 22 May 1986, lot 2 (though the sale was cancelled). 

Advertisement supplement, The Burlington Magazine, vol. 98, no. 639, June 1956, reproduced plate VI. 

The canvas has an old glue relining and the varnish is a little yellowed. Inspection under UV reveals scattered retouches throughout the background and figures, mostly attending to the craquelure pattern. The painting present a good clear image but would perhaps benefit from a light clean and revarnish. Offered in a simply carved gilt wood frame.
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.

A nearly identical version of this painting was once owned by Albert Joliet, exhibited at the Petis Palais in 1922, and entered the collection of the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Dijon in 1925.¹  When the present work was offered at auction in 1986, the provenance, exhibition, and literature of the two versions were conflated.  The updated provenance and literature is listed correctly here. 

The present painting relates to a group of drawings by Prud'hon of the same subject.  The drawings, which were lithographed by Jules Boilly in 1845 and 1851, depict Apollo and the Muses in groups of two.²  

1. The other version was exhibited Paris, Palais des Beaux-Arts, Petit Palais, Pierre Paul Prud'hon, 1922, no. 9.  Jean Guiffrey questioned the attribution of this other version in his 1924 monographic article on the artist.  See J. Guiffrey, "L'ouevre de Pierre Paul Prud'hon" in Archives de l'Art Français, XIII, 1924, p. 37. 

2. For a discussion and examples of the drawings see ibid., pp. 36-39, reproduced plate. IV.