Maurice Denis travelled to Greece in April 1929. "Lisbeth me mène à la fontaine Castalie. La grande fissure, les sources limpides et les restes d'un bassin architecturé, genre fontaine de Lourdes. Les fleurs partout. Le stade bien conservé. Le théâtre" (M. Denis, Journal, vol. III, 1921-1943, Paris, 1959, pp. 111-112). While in Delphi he executed a series of sketches which form the basis of the present composition as well as of a large watercolour of the same view.
To be included in the forthcoming Denis catalogue raisonné currently being prepared by Claire Denis, Thérèse Barruel and Claire Gruson.
We are grateful for their assistance in preparing this catalogue entry.