ODILON REDON (1840-1916)

By the early 1890s, Redon had made an extensive reputation for his work, based mainly on his charcoal drawings (which he referred to as his "noirs"), and his lithographs, both of which found a ready market. A small group of avid collectors eagerly awaited his new work, and he allowed a select few to purchase earlier drawings.
In 1896, Redon mentioned to Andries Bonger, one of his favored clients, that he was now frequently working in pastel. Redon was not worried that his clientele would desert him now that he was drawing with color, and in fact his sales income continued to climb through the remainder of the decade, and by 1900 he was selling as many paintings and pastels as drawings and prints. In a group exhibition in March 1899 at Galerie Durand-Ruel (which also featured artists of the younger generation such as Emile Bernard, Pierre Bonnard, Paul Sérusier and Edouard Vuillard), Redon for the first time showed more pastels than works in black-and-white. All of the pastels were sold before the exhibition closed, and some collectors had even approached the artist asking to see new works as he produced them.
The subject of the present work is enigmatic, though it bears a very descriptive title: Death of the Buddha. It is one of few works by Redon which has been ascribed a specific execution date of 1899.
The present work was acquired by Henri Matisse from the Galerie Durand-Ruel in 1900, and remained in his collection until it was acquired by John Quinn in 1923. It has been in the present owner's family collection for over 70 years.