Lot
153, "Ad Mare," by David Smith, painted steel, 27 1/2 by 27 by 8
inches, 1938
By Carter B. Horsley
Lot 153 is
a very strong and impressive 1938 painted steel sculpture by David
Smith (1906-1965) entitled "Ad Mare." It measures 27 1/2 by
27 by 8 inches It has an estimate of $600,000 to $800,000. It failed to sell.
The catalogue provides the following commentary on the lot:
"With its brigantine form and nautical title, Ad Mare hints at the sea
Its delightfully human scale exudes great subtlety an
remarkable spatial ocmplexity. With Ad Mare, Smith
abandons the centuries old tradition of basing sculpture around a
central core. Smith transforms the rescent shaped base that
would traditionally be a visual anchor - into a delicate scythe that
cuts through space, and is defined more by what has been removed than
how much remains. Smiths disperses the two biomorphic solid
elements tothe compositions's egdges, counterbalancing them with haffed
cones andlace-like wires.....Smith had high regard for the early
surrealist works of Swiss master scuptuire Alberto Giacometti."
Lot
171, "Pinwheel," by William Baziotes, oil and graphite on canvas, 24 by
30 inches, 1958
Lot 171 is a very subtle,
delicate and beautiful oil and graphite on canvas by William Baziotes
(1912-1963). Entitled "Pinwheel," it measures 24 by 30 inches
and it was painted in 1958. It was formerly in the collection
of Mr. and Mrs. Robert C. Scull of New York and the Tishman Family
Collection in New York. It has a modest estimate of $100,000
to $150,000. It sold for $218,500.
Lot
258, "Untitled," by William Baziotes, watercolor, ink and graphite on
paper, 14 1/4 by 10 1/2 inches, 1961
Another Baziotes is Lot 258,
an untitled watercolor, ink and graphite on paper that measures 14 1/4
by 10 1/2 inches. It was created in 1961 and has an estimate
of $18,000 to $25,000. It sold for $25,000.
Lot
259, "Souvenir," by William Baziotes, oil on canvas, 18 by 20 1/8
inches, circa 1940
A
third work by Baziotes is Lot 259, an oil on canvas entitled
"Souvenir." Created circa 1940, it measures 18 by 20 1/8
inches. It has an estimate of $70,000 to $100,000. It failed to sell.
Lot 256, "The
Door," by Theodore Stamos, oil on canvas, 60 inches square, 1961
Lot 256 is a wonderful large
oil on canvas by Theodore Stamos (1922-1997). Entitled "The
Door," it measures 60 inches square and was executed in 1961.
It has an estimate of $70,000 to $100,000. It sold for $254,500.
Lot 138,
"Jelly Rolls (For Morton)," by Wayne Thiebaud, oil on canvas,
19 by 22 inches, 2008 600-800
Lot 138 is a simple but good
still life by Wayne Thiebaud (b. 1920) entitled "Jelly Rolls (For
Morton)." An oil on canvas, it measures 19 by 22 inches and
was painted in 2008. It has an estimate of $600,000 to $800,000. It sold for $602,500.
Lot
179, "Study for Carolina Street," by Wayne Thiebaud, oil pastel and
graphite on board, 20 by 15 inches, 1984
Lot 179 is one of Thiebaud's
marvelous urban scenes. Entitled "Study for Carolina Street,"
it is an oil pastel and graphite on board that measures 20 by 15 inches
and was executed in 1984. It has an estimate of $300,000 to
$400,000. It failed to sell.
Lot
275, "Untitled," by Richard Diebenkorn, charcoal on paper, 25 by 19
inches, 1971
Lot 275 is a very fine
monochromatic abstraction in the style of his "Ocean Park" series by
Richard Diebenkorn (1922-1993). A charcoal on paper that
measures 25 by 19 inches it is untitled and was created in 1971
it has an estimate of $70,000 to $100,000. It sold for $86,500.
Lot
174, "None," by Alfred Leslie, oil on canvas, 80 by 100 inches, 1959
One
of the auction's most dramatic works is Lot 174, "None," by Alfred
Leslie (b. 1927). An oil on canvas, it measures 80 by 100
inches and was executed in 1959. It has an estimate of
$200,000 to $300,000. It sold for $242,500.
Lot
160, "Untitled (Dark Study)," by Arshile Gorky, oil on canvas, 8 1/2 by
9 1/4 inches, circa 1947
Lot
160 is a very luscious and fine though small oil on canvas by Arshile
Gorky (1904-1948). Entitled "Untitled (Dark Study)," it
measures 8 1/2 by 9 1/4 inches and was executed circa 1947.
It has a modest estimate of $250,000 to $350,000.
It failed to sell. The catalogue entry notes that the work is "exquisite" and
that "the remnants of a noctural American countryside emerge
within...as a template upon which Gorky ould transpose half-remembered
figments from his childhood Armenia - and to the enigmatic forms that
hover elusively just beyond recognition."
Lot
245, "In Black and White No. 5," by Robert Motherwell, acrylic on
canvas, 66 by 50 inches, 1966
Lot
245 is a very bold and fine abstraction by Robert Motherwell
(1915-1991) entitled "In Black and White No. 5." An acrylic
on canvas, it measures 66 by 50 inches and was painted in 1966.
It has an estimate of $700,000 to $1,000,000. It failed to sell.
Lot 303, "Untitled," by
Hans Hofmann, oil on panel, 42 3/4 by 30 1/4 inches,1945
Lot
303 is a very fine abstraction by Hans Hofmann (1880-1966).
An oil on panel, it measures 42 3/4 by 30 1/4 inches and was
painted in 1945. It has an estimate of $180,000 to $250,000. It sold for $158,500.
Lot
159, "Untitled," by Hans Hofmann, oil on board, 31 by 36 inches, 1947
Lot 159 is another superb
abstraction by Hofmann. An oil on board, it measures 31 by 36
inches and is untitled and was painted in 1947. It has an
estimate of $150,000 to $200,000. It sold for $182,500.
Lot 307, "Untitled," by
Jackson Pollock, gouache, ink and paper collage laid down on board, 15
7/8 by 21 inches,circa 1943
Lot 307 is a very fine early
untitled abstraction by Jackson Pollock (1912-1956). A gouache, ink and
paper collage laid down on board, it measures15 7/8 by 21
inches and was executed circa 1943. It has a modest estimate
of $200,000 to $300,000. It sold for $242,500.
