Matisse works donated to Met

More than 100 paintings, sculptures, drawings and original prints by prominent 20th century artists, including nearly 50 artworks by Henri Matisse, have been donated to New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art from a foundation named after the artist’s younger son, Pierre, and Pierre’s wife.

The donation from the Pierre and Maria-Gaetana Matisse Foundation is valued at nearly $100 million and includes work by modern artists Balthus, Chagall, Derain, Dubuffet, Giacometti, Miro and Tanguy. The gift strengthens the museum’s holdings of works by Henri Matisse as well as adding Surrealist works by Leonora Carrington, Wifredo Lam and Rene Magritte, artists not previously represented in the museum’s modern art collection.

The gift consists of pieces from Manhattan art dealer Pierre Matisse’s personal collection. Pierre died in 1989; Maria-Gaetana, who died in 2001, established their philanthropic foundation in 1995. Highlights of the donated works will be exhibited at the Met in 2004.

--Diane Haithman