Marc Chagall (1887-1985), Les trois cierges

Marc Chagall (1887-1985)
Les trois cierges
signed and dated 'Marc Chagall 1939' (lower right)
oil on canvas
51 ¼ x 38 ¼ in. (130.2 x 97.1 cm.)
Painted in 1939

Provenance

Pierre Matisse Gallery, New York (acquired from the artist, 1941).
Reader's Digest, New York (1946); sale, Sotheby's, New York, 16 November 1998, lot 37.
Acquired at the above sale by Mrs. Sydell Miller.

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PROPERTY FROM CLEVELAND CLINIC GENEROUSLY DONATED BY MRS. SYDELL MILLER

Entrepreneurial pioneers Sydell and Arnold Miller built their lives around visionary thinking. Unwavering proponents of empowering individuals and communities, the Millers created a legacy of beauty and generosity that Sydell Miller, her children, and grandchildren continue to build upon today.
Sydell and Arnold Miller were founders of Matrix Essentials, one of the largest and most successful professional beauty companies in the world. With an emphasis on superior product performance and innovation, the Millers ran their company with a strong focus on helping salon professionals achieve success. Helping others was a core value that Sydell and Arnold always instilled in their family. ?We always believed success ought to be measured by our ability to get up in the morning and feel good about ourselves, knowing that we?ve helped others with honesty and good intentions? said Mrs. Miller.
Arnold Miller died in 1992, the same year that his wife underwent major heart surgery at Cleveland Clinic. Two years later, Sydell Miller sold Matrix to more fully devote herself to family and philanthropy. Of particular focus to Mrs. Miller was the healthcare institution that had come to play such an important role in her life: ?My family and I are deeply grateful,? she stated, ?for the care we have received at Cleveland Clinic.? After her husband?s passing, Sydell Miller?s commitment to Cleveland Clinic?the nation?s top-ranked cardiology and heart surgery hospital?now stands as one of the most inspiring gestures of gratitude in the history of American philanthropy.
ARTISTRY AND VISION
Having achieved unparalleled success as an entrepreneur, Sydell Miller has always understood the importance of philanthropy. ?I came from a home that talked about the feeling of sharing and giving back,? she told an interviewer. ?It was always part of my life.? In 2005, Mrs. Miller announced a $70 million commitment to create the Sydell and Arnold Miller Family Pavilion, home to the Sydell and Arnold Miller Family Heart & Vascular Institute. Three years later, the city of Cleveland celebrated the opening of the Miller Family Pavilion, a 970,000-square-foot building housing the renowned heart institute. At its opening, Sydell called the facility a ?dream come true,? and described the profound pride in knowing her family?s gift would ?benefit so many people?s lives.? The Millers? daughters, Stacie Halpern and Lauren Spilman, praised their mother as an ?incredible role model, successful businesswoman, innovator, and philanthropist,? and spoke of their father?s steadfast belief in the city of Cleveland and its people.
A member of Cleveland Clinic?s Board of Trustees, as well as its Florida Leadership Council, Medallion Society, and 1921 Society, Sydell Miller is one of the institution?s most stalwart patrons and volunteers. She was instrumental in bringing Cleveland Clinic?s superlative care to West Palm Beach, Florida, where she is cherished for her local philanthropic initiatives and community outreach. In 2011, Mrs. Miller was honored at Cleveland Clinic?s Florida Ball with the inaugural Sydell Miller Award for her service. The following year, she was named a Cleveland Clinic Distinguished Fellow, the highest lifetime honor bestowed by the institution.
Having built a career on promoting individual expression and creativity, Sydell Miller was always drawn to the very best in artistic achievement. Her museum-quality assemblage of fine art includes works by many iconic Impressionist, Modern, Post-War, and Contemporary artists. Diverse in media and scale, the collection is unified by its remarkable beauty, intellectual vibrancy, and the astute connoisseurship with which it was assembled. Of particular note are the many female artists represented, as Mrs. Miller has been a lifelong champion of women?s ambitions and achievements.
It is fitting that Sydell Miller has so fully aligned herself with Cleveland Clinic, an international leader in medical care, research, and education where the visual arts, performance, music, and art therapy are deeply integrated into the healing process. Of special note is Cleveland Clinic?s Art Program, established in 2006 to introduce patients and staff to a vibrant array of Modern and Contemporary art. The program?s success is evidenced by the over six thousand works now in Cleveland Clinic?s art collection, proudly displayed throughout public and patient areas and dedicated exhibition spaces. Nearly three dozen curated exhibitions have been staged since the program?s inception, bolstered by an ongoing slate of educational events and initiatives designed specifically for patients. Today, the Sydell and Arnold Miller Family Heart & Vascular Institute remains not only the United States? foremost site for cardiovascular care, but home to a dynamic and inspiring display of fine art. It is a much deserved tribute to the Millers? longstanding position at the intersection of art, leadership, and philanthropy.
Included in this consignment are three works to be offered in Christie?s Post-War & Contemporary Evening Sale 17 May 2017, for more information please reference page 252-255.

PROPERTY FROM CLEVELAND CLINIC GENEROUSLY DONATED BY MRS. SYDELL MILLER