MAURICE DENIS

This work will be included in the Catalogue raisonné edited by Claire Denis and Fabienne Stahl, under the number 928.0025.

Provenance:
- Estate of the artist.
- Bernadette Denis, Saint-Germain-en-Laye.
- Dr. Robert Duroquet, Septeuil.
- Christie's London, Duroquet Collection, 28 Novemer 1972, lot 154.
- Galerie Kurt Meissner, Zurich.
- Private collection, Switzerland (bought at the above gallery).

Exhibitions:
- Paris 1929, Maurice Denis. Galerie Druet, no. 19.
- Paris 1930, Peintres actuels. Galerie Charpentier, no. 25.
- Paris 1933, Maurice Denis. Galerie Charpentier, no. 19.
- Paris 1941, Maurice Denis. Galerie Carré, no. 21.
- Zurich 1973, Galerie Kurt Meissner.

Villa Balestra is on the Via Flamina in Rome, slightly above Villa Strohl Fern, which belonged to the French state and where studios were made available to artists. In 1928 Maurice Denis was on one of his many journeys to the capital city of Catholicism which he held in such high esteem.
There is a preparatory drawing of this view in Maurice Denis’ sketch book. It beautifully exemplifies his style of working. He did not always convert these sketches into paintings on the spot, but often worked on them in his studio in Saint-Germain-en-Laye. For Denis, who is also considered the most consistent of all the Nabis, the direct rendering of what was seen, was not essential in any case. Throughout his life he adhered to the principles of this artist group, which we can see in the typical two-dimensionality of this fine landscape.