Art, Architecture, and Design

Chagall comments on his original illustrations for La Fontaine’s Fables

405. Marc Chagall Typed Letter Signed. TLS in

French, one page, 8.25 x 10.5, October 6, 1966. Letter concerning a color drawing for the Fables of La Fontaine, in part (translated): “I’m glad you own a work of mine. I do believe that it must be the original of a gouache that I did in its day, for Ambroise Vollard, for La Fontaine’s Fables. But, as it was not possible to reproduce this gouache in color, I then decided to do La Fontaine’s Fables in black and white.” In very good to fine condition, with light edge creasing, and staple holes and paperclip impressions to the upper left corner. Starting Bid $200

406. Keith Haring Signed ‘Safe Sex!’ Poster. Wonderful

color 27.25 x 29.5 poster of Keith Haring’s 1987 design “Safe Sex!,” which depicts a smiling cartoon penis holding a condom and pointing to the poster’s bold red banner, signed and inscribed vertically in black felt tip, “For Greg—K. Haring 88.” Lower portion bears Haring’s facsimile autograph. Rolled and in very good to fine condition, with light creasing, some short edge tears, and overall rippling due to dampstaining to the upper right corner. The consignor notes that this poster was given out and then signed by Haring at a special AIDS benefit appearance at the NYC club The Limelight in 1988. Starting Bid $200

Handsome mayor-certified Renoir nude

407. Pierre Auguste Renoir Signed

Photograph. Fantastic matte-finish 6.5 x 10.75 photographic print of one of Renoir’s nude studies, affixed to a 9 x 11.5 mount, signed in the lower border in black ink, “Renoir.” Lower border also bears official certification stamps in French signed by the mayor of Cagnes-sur-Mer to authenticate Renoir’s signature, dated January 10, 1911. In fine condition. A nice example of a nude study by the celebrated Impressionist. Starting Bid $300

408. Auguste Rodin Signed Photograph. Scarce oversized

14 x 10.75 photo of one of Rodin’s great sculptures, signed in the lower right corner in ink, “Rodin.” In fine condition, with stains in the bottom border, and several short edge tears, all of which could be matted out. Starting Bid $200

Exquisite handwritten letter by the 14-year-old Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, boasting a magnificent horse-and-carriage sketch

409. Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec Autograph Letter

Signed with Sketch. ALS in French, signed “Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec,” four pages on two adjoining sheets, 4.25 x 6.5, circa August 1879. Handwritten letter to his great aunt, incorporating a detailed drawing of a carriage pulled by horses. The young artist describes with great wit his pilgrimage to Lourdes, and a stay in Barèges with his parents. Tragically, within a few days of writing this letter, Toulouse-Lautrec broke his right leg in Barèges, having already broken his left leg the previous year, leaving him with lifelong injuries.

In part (translated): “We arrived last night after a very good trip, although a little hot...There was a baby who was also going to the pilgrimage and changing clothes from time to time who knocked over a large glass of wine. We have been several times to the grotto and we have not forgotten you… Sunday at vespers we sang very well and a good priest read us the story of a miracle, but he spoiled his speech by adding that since the event that took place last year the person who received the miracle had put on twenty pounds in weight…We left the next day at eight o’clock and arrived safely after several long hours spent in a horse-drawn coach.” At the bottom of the third page, Toulouse-Lautrec draws the coach. In very good to fine condition, with unobtrusive repairs to a tear, a fold, and the hinge. A superb letter boasting Toulouse-Lautrec’s scarce full signature, plus a remarkably detailed original sketch that demonstrates the burgeoning talents of the 14-year old artist. Starting Bid $1000

Warhol and his iconic Marilyn

411. Andy Warhol Signed Poster of Marilyn Monroe.

Original color 19.75 x 29.75 promotional poster for an Andy Warhol exhibition held at London’s Tate Gallery from February 17 to March 28, 1971, featuring an iconic image of the artist’s silkscreened Marilyn Monroe, entitled ‘Shot Sage Blue Marilyn,’ signed along the bottom in black felt tip, “Andy Warhol, London, 1971.” Printed by the Hillingdon Press. Framed and in very good to fine condition, with small holes to the upper left blank area. The month of Monroe’s tragic death, Warhol, who had only just begun experimenting with the silkscreen process, decided to pay tribute to the late screen legend with a series of multicolored paintings. The basis of this image, and those that represent Warhol’s iconic ‘Marilyn Diptych,” derives from a publicity shot by Gene Korman for the 1953 film Niagara. A gorgeous vintage poster in its own right, this magnificent presentation piece finds Warhol signing one of his most identifiable and desirable subjects—the original silkscreen painting of ‘Shot Sage Blue Marilyn’ recently sold at auction for a record $195,000,000. Starting Bid $500

Handwritten letter from Paris by the young “V. W. van Gogh,” addressing his love of literature

410. Vincent van Gogh Autograph Letter Signed.

Rare ALS in Dutch, signed “V. W. van Gogh,” one page both sides, 4 x 5.25, September 2, 1875. Handwritten letter to Egbert Borchers, his friend in The Hague. In part (translated): “Thank you for your letter which I received this morning & which pleased me. At Christmas I hope to come to Holland & if I can, straight to The Hague & we must make sure we don’t miss each other. I’m glad you still enjoy reading, that’s always good, at least reading such books as you read. I’m keeping it up, too; an employee in our business who is currently on vacation to Holland has just promised me to bring me a copy of ‘Motley, History of the 17 Provinces.’ As you know, I’m in Paris now, so I’ve been wandering quite a bit since we saw each other on my last day in The Hague & it’s as if that was quite a bit more than two years ago.” Addressed on the reverse in van Gogh’s hand. In fine condition, with minor clipping to two corner tips, affecting nothing. A rare and unusual variation of van Gogh’s signature, as most of his letters are signed with just his first name.

Van Gogh worked for the art dealers Goupil & Cie in The Hague from July 1869 to May 1873, when he was transferred to London after completing his apprenticeship. Goupil was one of Europe’s most renowned fine art dealers, and also a publisher of prints and engravings. At the young age of twenty, Vincent was earning a fine living with a salary higher than his father’s. During this period, he learned a great deal about the art market, the old masters, and contemporary art. When his younger brother Theo took a position with Goupil, Vincent excitedly wrote to him: ‘I am very happy that you work in the same firm. It is such a splendid house; the more one works there, the more ambition it gives you.’

At the time he wrote this letter, Vincent had been transferred to Goupil’s Paris branch. There, he became increasingly religiously fervent and grew resentful of issues such as the degree to which the firm commodified art. His increasingly poor performance resulted in his dismissal in January 1876, just four months after the present letter. Stricken by poverty in the ensuing years, van Gogh finally picked up a paintbrush in 1880, some five years after he penned this epistle.

A primary topic in this letter is van Gogh’s love of literature—an insatiable reader, he counted Dickens, Zola, Shakespeare, and Maupassant among his favorite authors. He often commented on his reading in letters to his brother Theo, providing insight into his bookish diversions. Vincent’s favorite books guided his thoughts, defined his worldview, and influenced his art. A recent study of his reading, Vincent’s Books: Van Gogh and the Writers Who Inspired Him by Mariella Guzzoni, was published in 2020. Starting Bid $20000

Wright to the Met’s lead baritone, seeking musical counsel for his daughter, “She is a Debussy fan”

412. Frank Lloyd Wright Typed Letter Signed Twice. TLS signed

twice as “Frank” and “F. LL. W.,” one page, 11 x 8.5, Taliesin letterhead, January 22 (1942). Letter to actor and opera singer Lawrence Tibbett, who was the lead baritone with the New York Metropolitan Opera from 1923 to 1950. In part: “My youngest and very dear daughter Iovanna...has been studying the harp...I would like to have her talk music with you...She is going about just a little...to musical events—opera occasionally—she is a Debussy fan.” Another hand has added at the top, “Tickets for opera?” In fine condition, with scattered light foxing. Starting Bid $200

413. Zao Wou-Ki Autograph Letter Signed. CALS in

French, one page, 8.25 x 10.5, April 19, 1961. Handwritten letter by Zao Wou-Ki, in part (translated): “I hope that we’ll have better days soon. As you asked me for the sketch of my studio: I don’t have the architect’s drawing. I hope my sketch will be of some use to you. Thank you again for your kind intention to lend me your loft.” In fine condition. Starting Bid $200