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Art, Architecture, and Design
388. Marc Chagall Signed Print Portfolio. Portfolio entitled “Chagall: Les Trésors de la peinture française,” published by Skira, consisting of the original 11.25 x 15.5 portfolio folder, seven of the ten mounted color plates, and a biography of the artist. Signed and inscribed on the reverse of the mount of ‘Portrait de l’Artiste aux Sept Doigts’ in fountain pen, “Pour le Dr. Manfred Engelstein, Marc Chagall, Vence 1953.” In very good condition, with toning, tears, and minor loss only to its original folder, three plates absent as noted, and the plate from the front cover also missing. Starting Bid $200
389. Ivan Chermayeff Signed Original
Artwork. Graphic designer (1932–2017) who created some of the most recognizable corporate logos of the late 20th century, including those for the cable channel Showtime, the publisher HarperCollins, and the Smithsonian Institution. Highly desirable original mixed media collage artwork by Ivan Chermayeff, cut paper and block-letter print on a 12.5 x 9.75 cardstock sheet, signed in the lower right in fountain pen, “Ivan Chermayeff, ‘57.” The unique artwork reads “BOAT,” with the “A” upside down, on hand-cut and torn kraft paper, embellished with red paper accents. Handsomely mounted and framed to an overall size of 14 x 11. In fine condition. Starting Bid $200
Impressively inscribed World of Salvador Dali, complete with a large Don Quixote sketch
391. Salvador Dali Signed Sketch in Book. Signed book: The World of Salvador Dali. First edition. NY: Harper & Row, 1962. Hardcover with dust jacket, 10.5 x 12, 228 pages. Enthusiastically signed and inscribed across the half-title page spread in black ballpoint, “Pour Irene, Hommage de Dali, 1962.” Dali also draws his classic large, wiry Don Quixote figure on the left side, complete with a landscape with figure pointing to crescent moon, and another figure seated on a rearing horse, signed again below, “Dali.” He also adds a crown sketch above his larger signature to the right side. Autographic condition: fine. Book condition: VG/VG-, with subtle foxing and toning at the book’s spine ends, and some wear, tears at spine, and some old tape to the clipped dust jacket. Accompanied by a letter of provenance from the original recipient, who personally met Dali at New York City’s St. Regis Hotel. Starting Bid $500
390. Gustave Courbet Signed Photograph. French painter (1819–
1877) who led the Realism movement and was scorned for his rigid classical outlook. He was imprisoned and fined for his part in the destruction of the Vendome Column and later fled to Switzerland. Scarce 9.25 x 7.75 albumen photo of his painting ‘A Thicket of Deer at the Stream of Plaisir-Fountaine’ [‘Remise de chevreuils au ruisseau de Plaisir-Fontaine,’ now at Musée d’Orsay], affixed to its original 11.5 x 10.25 mount, signed and inscribed on the mount in bold ink to his friend and fellow painter Eugène Boudin, “A mon ami Boudin, Gustave Courbet.” In fine condition, with lightly speckled staining to the mount. A stunning testimony to the friendship between two of the most prominent French painters of the 19th century. Starting Bid $200
392. Willem de Kooning Signed Print. Dutch-American abstract expressionist artist (1904–1997). Scarce color 6.5 x 8.75 print of his iconic ‘action painting’ entitled ‘Woman I,’ affixed to its original 11 x 14 mount, signed on the mount in black ballpoint, “Willem de Kooning.” Pencil collector’s notations on the reverse denote where the signature was obtained. In fine condition. Starting Bid $200
Degas visits the atelier of a “master”
393. Edgar Degas Autograph Letter Signed.
ALS in French, signed “Degas,” one page both sides, 4.5 x 7, [February 3, 1884, dated in another hand]. Handwritten letter to the sculptor Albert Bartholomé, in part: “I couldn’t go to Mrs. Kaley because we had dinner so late at the house of the Ratowsky...I also missed Clemenceau on Sunday I went to the Atelier. I could only go to the Atelier around 3. Too late to be authorized to enter with the cards that were sent by the master. There had been a luncheon with Coquet also with the friends of the painter and I also missed it. What an incredible heat within that place.” In fine condition. Starting Bid $300
influential French artist (1887-1968) associated with Dadaism and conceptual art, best remembered for his controversial ‘Nude Descending a Staircase, No. 2’ painting and his ‘Readymade’ recontextualized found objects. ALS, one page, 5.75 x 7.75, January 18, 1964. Handwritten letter to Carole Cook at Barnard College, in part: “First I am very sorry to have neglected to answer your letter…I had to undergo a serious check up in a hospital and forgot all about my mail. If there is still for your paper, I suggest that you call me up any morning around 10 A.M. at AL 48692 and we will arrange for you to come down here, 28 W. 10th St. Hoping this will help you.” In fine condition. Accompanied by the original mailing envelope addressed in Duchamp’s hand, incorporating his surname as part of the return address on the flap. Starting Bid $200
395. James Ensor Autograph Note
Signed. Belgian painter and printmaker (1860-1949) who was an important influence on expressionism and surrealism. ANS in French, one page, 4.75 x 3.5, September 10, 1929. An untranslated handwritten note from the artist, matted and framed to an overall size of 9 x 8. In fine condition, with some faint stains. Starting Bid $200
396. Lucian Freud Autograph Letter Signed. Important German-born British artist (1922–2011) best known for his distinctive, often enigmatic portraits ALS, one page on a 4 x 5.75 postcard of his ‘Nude with Leg Up (1992),’ November 12, 2007. Handwritten letter to Elizabeth Brown, in part: “Thank you for your letter. Would you like to have lunch with me on Monday the 19th November. Please come round to the house at one o’clock.” In very fine condition. Accompanied by the original mailing envelope, addressed in his own hand, and a letter of provenance from the recipient, who had volunteered as a model. Starting Bid $200
397. Maximilien Luce Autograph Letter Signed with Sketches. Prolific French neo-impressionist artist (1858–1941)
known for his work in both the Impressionist and Pointillist modes. ALS in French, signed “Luce,” one page, 4.25 x 6.5, January 1, 1918. Untranslated handwritten letter by Luce, with two fabulous original ink sketches drawn on the reverse: one of a landscape scene, and one of several figures together. In fine condition. Starting Bid $300
398. Rene Magritte Autograph Letter Signed. Belgian artist
(1898–1967) best known for his paintings in a surrealist, humor-tinged style, often incorporating such trademark elements as bowler hat-wearing men, windows, eyes, and female torsos. ALS in French, one page, 5.25 x 8.5, personal letterhead, January 31, 1962. Untranslated handwritten letter by Magritte. In fine condition. Starting Bid $200
399. Jean-Francois Millet Autograph Letter Signed. French painter
(1814–1875) known as one of the founders of the Barbizon school. ALS in French, signed “J. F. Millet,” one page, 5 x 8, no date. Untranslated handwritten letter by Millet. In fine condition, with small tape stains to the top and bottom edges. Starting Bid $200
Gifted to his mistress and model, a rare original sketch from Modigliani’s ‘Caryatid’ series
400. Amedeo Modigliani Signed Sketch. Superb
original sketch by Italian Jewish painter and sculptor Amedeo Modigliani entitled ‘Cariatide’ (1913), accomplished in graphite on an off-white 16.75 x 10.5 sheet, which is signed vertically in the lower right, “Modigliani,” and inscribed on the reverse, “a Madame Hastings.” An example from his ‘Caryatid’ series, the sketch depicts a human figure, either a child or a woman, with head turned towards the observer. Framed to a slightly larger size and in fine condition.
From 1909 until 1914–15, Modigliani made more than seventy sketches of Caryatids, which he originally conceived as preparatory drawings for an ambitious sculpture project that he called ‘colonnes de tendresse’ (columns of tenderness). The Caryatids—stylized representations of women that functioned as columns or pilasters in an architectural setting—were notably influenced by African art, which is evident in the poses of the figures and their mask-like faces. These Caryatid sculptures were planned for a secular temple devoted to the beauty of humankind. The recipient of this drawing was Beatrice Hastings, an English writer, poet and literary critic, who shared an apartment in Montparnasse with Modigliani and became his model for countless paintings, including the 1916 work, ‘Seated Nude.’
Provenance: Collection of Monsieur F. (auction at Hôtel Drouot, 22nd November 1922, lot no. 14) Collection of Monsieur Coste, by descent. Starting Bid $5000
Monet sends thanks for a contribution to the fund to buy “l’Olympia de Manet”
401. Claude Monet Autograph Letter Signed. ALS in French, one
page, 4.5 x 7, February 25, 1890. Handwritten letter by Claude Monet, sending thanks for a contribution of 500 francs to his campaign to purchase Edouard Manet’s ‘Olympia’ for the French National Museum. In fine condition.
Edouard Manet’s painting ‘Olympia,’ an arrestingly bold nude of a reclining prostitute, immediately sparked controversy upon its unveiling at the 1865 Paris Salon. Later recognized as one of the artist’s true masterpieces, Monet spearheaded a public campaign to raise money for the French government to purchase the painting. Monet’s letters on the subject—generally sent to those within his artistic circle—are highly coveted, and this example is dramatically enhanced by the list of subscribers. By February 1890, Monet had raised about 20,000 francs to purchase the great work and announced its donation to the French national museums. As the law prevented the Louvre from exhibiting works until their creators were ten years deceased (Manet died in 1883), ‘Olympia’ was first shown at the Musée du Luxembourg, then at the Musée de l’Art Contemporary of Paris. By order of Georges Clemenceau, Olympia finally took its place in the Louvre in 1907. Starting Bid $1000
402. Claude Monet Autograph Letter
Signed. ALS in French, three pages on two sheets, 4.5 x 7, April 26, 1887. Untranslated handwritten letter by Claude Monet. In fine condition, with a short tear to the edge of the first page. Starting Bid $300
Pissarro writes to Monet
403. Camille Pissarro Autograph Letter Signed to Claude Monet. Untranslated
ALS in French, signed “C. Pissarro,” one page both sides, 4 x 5, May 19, 1884. Addressed from Paris, a handwritten letter to fellow painter Claude Monet. In fine condition. Starting Bid $200
405. Stanford White Typed Letter Signed. Distinguished American architect (1853–1906) who was a leading figure of the ‘Beaux Arts’ movement. He was fatally shot and killed in the roof garden theatre of the Landmark by the husband of actress Evelyn Nesbit in retribution for a long-ago affair. TLS, one page, 7.75 x 10, McKim, Mead & White letterhead, July 9, 1895. Letter to a friend. In part: “I find ‘La Touraine’ is going to get me into Paris some time Saturday afternoon, and, therefore, I will have added to my short time in Paris Saturday afternoon and night, and Sunday. Why won’t you dine with us Saturday evening the 20th? Or, if you cannot do that, if it will be entirely convenient to you, would you mind stopping in at the Normandie between half-past five and six, or earlier, if you would rather.” Double-matted and framed with a portrait to an overall size of 19.5 x 16. In fine condition, intersecting folds and multiple punch holes to the upper right. Starting Bid $200
