By: Jamie Stengle, Associated Press
DALLAS (AP).- A Fort Worth foundation is selling four Henri Matisse sculptures known as “The Backs” that were once on display at a downtown park. The large relief sculptures by Matisse that depict a woman’s backside progressing from realistic to abstract were acquired by the Burnett Foundation in 1982 and later put on display at Fort Worth’s Burnett Park. When the park was renovated in 2000, they were moved to Fort Worth’s Kimbell Art Museum. Neils Agather, executive director of the foundation, said the value of the sculptures now far exceeds anything that could justify owning them. He said the main mission of the foundation, which focuses on supporting health, education, human services and arts initiatives, mostly in the Fort Worth area, is to support community activities, not own art. A “Back IV” sold at auction at Christie’s in November for more than $48 million. “They’ve just gotten to a value now that it doesn’t fit the mission anymore,