The Musée d’Art Moderne in Paris has received a generous donation of 61 works by Henri Matisse from the artist’s family. The collection includes paintings, drawings, etchings, lithographs, and a sculpture. Most of these artworks feature Matisse’s daughter, Marguerite. Barbara Dauphin Duthuit, wife of Matisse’s grandson Claude, made this historic gift. Many pieces were previously loaned to the museum for the "Matisse et Marguerite" exhibition last year. The donation was a complete surprise to the museum. In 2013, Duthuit also donated "Marguerite with a Black Cat," one of Matisse’s most famous portraits of his daughter, to the Pompidou Centre. Marguerite was Matisse’s favourite subject. She was born during his relationship with model Caroline Joblau while he was studying in Paris. Matisse later brought her to live with his family. Marguerite faced health challenges, contracting diphtheria at six and undergoing a tracheotomy. She hid her scar with blouses or ribbons until an operation at 26. Despite fragile health, she joined the French resistance during World War II and endured torture by the Gestapo. She painted during the war but later became her father’s assistant until he died in 1954. Matisse preferred to keep his art within the family, making this donation especially significant. The 61 works will join 20 other Matisse pieces held by the museum. Fabrice Hergott, the museum director, called the portraits “extremely beautiful and moving.” He praised Madame Duthuit’s generous gesture, saying the museum will now be Marguerite’s new home for decades to come.