By Carter B. Horsley
This day auction of Impressionist & Modern Art at Christie's May 5, 2005 has some very nice sketches and studies by some big names and an excellent work by Fernand Léger and a charming albeit small sheet-metal sculpture by Pablo Picasso.
Lot 227 is a fine oil sketch on canvas by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (1864-1901) that is entitled "Au Bois de Boulogne." It is dated 1901 and measures 22 1/8 by 18 1/4 inches. It has an estimate of $500,000 to $700,000. It sold for $564,800 including the buyer's premium as do all results mentioned in this article.
Lot 236 is a pleasant small oil sketch on cradled panel by Georges Seurat (1859-1891). Entitled "Etude dans l'lle," it measures 6 1/8 by 9 3/8 inches and was executed about 1883. The lot has a modest estimate of $400,000 to $600,000. It failed to sell.
Lot 239 is a good waterfront scene by Paul Signac (1863-1935) that is entitled "La Rochelle, Le bassin à flots (No. 2)." An oil on canvas, it measures 18 1/2 by 21 5/8 inches. Executed in 1916, it has a modest estimate of $300,000 to $400,000. It sold for $486,400.
Perhaps the most dazzling work in the auction is Lot 234, "Paysage avec oiseau blessé," by André Masson (1896-1987). An oil on canvas that measures 31 7/8 by 25 1/2 inches, it was executed in 1927. It was consigned by the Collection of Ruth and Karvey Kaplan. Masson, the catalogue entry for this lot noted, "pioneered the use of automatic drawing, which he first practised in 1923. It has a modest estimate of $200,000 to $300,000. It failed to sell.
Lot 320 is an excellent still life with playing cards by Fernand Léger (1881-1955). An oil on canvas that measures 36 1/8 by 28 5/8 inches, it was executed in 1929. It has a modest estimate of $500,000 to $700,000. It sold for $1,248,000.
Lot 211, "Deux vaches au pré" is a very nice small landscape with two cows by Paul Gauguin (1848-1903). An oil on canvas that measures 15 7/8 by 10 3/4 inches, it was executed in 1884. It was once owned by Sir Hugh Walpole of London and was consigned by the Maspro Art museum in Japan. It has a modest estimate of $180,000 to $250,000. It sold for $329,600.
Another fine work from the Maspro Art Museum is Lot 256, "Deauville, Le bassin," by Eugene Boudin (1824-1898). An oil on panel that measures 9 3/8 by 12 7/8 inches, it was painted in 1880. It has a modest estimate of $70,000 to $100,000. It sold for $150,000.
Lot 287 is a delightful cut sheet-metal with white enamel small sculpture by Pablo Picasso (1881-1973). Entitled "Femme au bras levé," it is 12 5/8 inches high and was executed in 1961. It has an estimate of $200,000 to $300,000. It sold for $307,200.