Ker-Xavier Roussel (French, 1867-1944) impressionist oil on canvas painting of nudes in a river landscape setting titled "Baigneuses" (Bathers), unsigned. Circa 1906-1907. - Roussel is best known as a member of Les Nabis, an influential and cult-like group of artists that also included Pierre Bonnard, Edouard Vuillard, Maurice Denis and Paul Serusier. Although there was no unified Nabis style, the artists emphasized the flatness of the painting surface by using simplified areas of color and patterned design. - According to Nicolas Langlois, Roussel's great grandson and a leading authority on his work, the painting was executed circa 1906/1907, during or after Roussel's visit with Maurice Denis in St. Tropez. Langlois knows of eight versions of this scene, one of which, "Ete en Mediterranee," is illustrated in Lucie Cousturier, "Ker Xavier Roussel," (1927), p. 44 and subsequently sold at Sotheby's (London) in 2011. - Provenance: This painting was in the collection of Pierre Bonnard at the time of Bonnard's death in 1947. It was subsequently transferred to the Galerie Louis Carre in Paris (label verso), and then sold at auction with other artwork from the Bonnard collection in 1954 at the Galerie Charpentier. The buyer was a young woman named Patti Cadby Birch who eventually became a major collector and a trustee of both MOMA and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The painting was acquired directly from Birch's estate. - English translation for letter (See photos): "We, the undersigned, Nicolas Langlois and Jacques Roussel, great-grandchildren of Ker Xavier Roussel, hereby certify that the work reproduced on the reverse side, the Heine Institute's version of "Ete en Mediterranee", measuring 128cm x 162cm, is the work of K X Roussel. ***** In Paris, February 3, 2014". - [49 1/2" H x 63" W]. In good condition.

In good condition.