Bathers with a Turtle is a painting by Henri Matisse

Henri Matisse

Henri Matisse was a French artist, known for his use of colour and his fluid and original draughtsmanship. He was a draughtsman, printmaker, and sculptor, but is known primarily as a painter...

 from 1908, collection: The Saint Louis Art Museum

Saint Louis Art Museum

The Saint Louis Art Museum is one of the principal U.S. art museums, visited by up to a half million people every year. Admission is free through a subsidy from the cultural tax district for St. Louis City and County.Located in Forest Park in St...

, St. Louis.
It was purchased by Joseph Pulitzer, Jr. in 1939 at an auction of Nazi plunder

Nazi plunder

Nazi plunder refers to art theft and other items stolen as a result of the organized looting of European countries during the time of the Third Reich by agents acting on behalf of the ruling Nazi Party of Germany. Plundering occurred from 1933 until the end of World War II, particularly by military...

 and later given by him to the museum.
Prior to that it had been in the collection of the Folkwang Museum in Essen, Germany.
Pulitzer purchased it at the urging of Matisse's son Pierre Matisse

Pierre Matisse

Pierre Matisse was an art dealer active in New York City. He was the youngest child of French painter Henri Matisse.-Background and early years:...

, in order to prevent the artwork from being destroyed, despite the profit from the auction going to the Nazis.