By
Carter B. Horsley
This Latin
American Art auctions at Christie's New York May 22 and 23, 2012 are
highlighted by many superb paintings by Fernando Botero, a wonderful
Matta, very good sculptures by Leonora Carrington and Pablo
Atchugarry and excellent paintings by Claudio Brava, Joaquin
Torres-Garcia, Armando Morales, and Alfredo Volpi.
The sale was very
successful and set world auction records for 33 artists.
It sold 84 percent of 299
offered lots for $27,731,875.
The top lot in the sale was Lot 10, "La Révolte des Contraires," by
Matta (1911-2002). An
oil on canvas that measures 38 by 50 inches, it was painted in 1944 and
has been widely exhibited and published. It has an estimate
of
$1,800,000 to $2,500,000. It
sold for $5,010,500 including the buyer's premium as do all results
mentioned in this article. It set a new world auction record
for the artist, almost double the previous record of $2,642,500 set at
Sotheby's New York November 23, 1999.
In
her catalogue entry for the work, Susan L. Aberth, associate professor
of Art History at Bard College, said that the painting "is a masterful
example of Matta's utilization of thin washes of pigment, undulating
lines, and flame-like breakouts of prismatic color to portray a
non-Euclidean space he dubbed 'inscapes.'"
"The writings of
[Russian esotericist P. D.] Oupensky, along with those of the French
mathematician, Jules Henri Poincaré, led the artist to explore notions
of visual perception and the limitations of three-dimensional space.
This would spark in Matta a life-long quest to find the
artitic
means to portray unseen dimensions, the passage of time, processes of
transformation, and other esoteric concepts.....
"In Révolte des
contraires
Matta creates a catacylsmic space in a perpetual state
of flux.
Black curvilinear lines on a white ground suggest limitless
space, as concentric circles spin, creating vortexes of energy.
Flashes of exuberant yellow-geeen evoke an astral,
otherworkly
light illuminating the void. Illusionistic space is
juxtaposed
against opaque planes of black that emphasize the surface and this
vacillation (as the title indicates creates a tension suggestive of
processes of transformation. Simultaneously hermetic and
accessible La Révolte
des contraires depicts a metaphysical realm where
scientific notions of the cosmos, meld with the interior, psychological
space of the mind."
Lot
25, "The Arnolfini (after Van Eyck)," by Fernando Botero, oil on
canvas, 52 3/4 by 42 inches, 1997
Lot 25 is a large painting by
Fernando Botero (b. 1932) modeled after Jan Van Eyck's Arnolfini
wedding portrait. An oil on canvas, it measures 52 3/4 by 42
inches and was painted in 1997. It has an estimate of
$500,000 to $700,000. It
sold for $842,500.
Lot 129, "The Dog," by
Fernando Botero, bronze, 16 1/4 by 17 1/2 by 12 1/2 inches, 1976,
numbered 3/6, right
Lot 129 is a
cute bronze sculpture ofa dog by Fernando Botero. It measures
16 1/4 by 17 1/2 by 12 1/2 inches and was created in 1976 and is
numbered 3/6. it has an estimate of $200,000 to $300,000. It failed to sell.
Lot 31, "The
Street," by Fernando Botero, oil on canvas, 59 by 44 inches, 1995
Lot 31 is a
large oil on canvas by Botero entitled "The Street." It
measures 59 by 44 inches and was painted in 1995. It has an
estimate of $600,000 to $800,000. It
sold for $1,426,500.
Lot
46, "Hombre en rojo," by Rufino Tamayo, oil and sand on canvas, 33 3/4
by 26 1/2 inches, 1962
Lot 46, "Hombre
en rojo," is an oil and sand on canvas by Rufino Tamayo (1899-1991).
It measures 33 3/4 by 26 1/2 inches and was painted in 1962.
It has an estimate of $300,000 to $400,000. It failed to sell.
Lot
28, "Femme qui reve," by ArmandoMorales, oil and beeswax on canvas, 35
b y 51 inches, 1994
Lot 28 is a
beautiful painting by Armando Morales (1927-2011) of a "Woman Who
Dreams" and it is reminiscent of Velasquez's great Rokeby Venus nude.
An oil and beeswax on canvas, it measures 35 by 51 inches and
was painted in 1994. It has an estimate of $150,000 to
$200,000. It
sold for $170,500.
Lot
26, "Psalterium," by Claudio Bravo, oil on canvas, 78 1/2 by 59 inches,
1998
Lot 26 is a big
painting of hanging fabrics by Claudio Bravo (1936-2011) entitled
"Psalterium." An oil on canvas, it measures 78 1/2 by 59
inches and was painted in 1998. It has an estimate of
$800,000 to $1,200,000. It
sold for $1,142,500.
Lot
68, "Bandeirinhascom mastros e fita," by Alfredo Volpi, tempera on
canvas, 28 1/4 by 41 inches,1968
One of the most
colorful and joyous works in the auction is Lot 68,"Bandeirinhascom
mastros e fita," by Alfredo Volpi (1896-1988). A tempera on
canvas, it measures 28 1/4 by 41 inches and was painted in 1968.
It has an estimate of $350,000 to $450,000. It sold for $458,500.
Lot 16,
"Grafismo universal sobre fondo gris," by Joaquin Torres-Garcia,
tempera on board laid on panel, 39 3/8 by 31 5/8 inches, 1937
Lot 16 is an
important tempera on board laid down on panel by Joaquin Torres-Garcia
(1874-1949). It measures 39 3/8 by 31 5.8 inches and was
painted in 1937. It is entitled "Grafismo universal sobre
fondo gris."
On his return from Europe to Montevideo in 1934, the artist embarked on
the construction of Cosmic
Monument, a stone wall intended as a public manifestation
of his ideas that was completed in 1938. Using
pictographs, the artist created dense grids with indigenous
motifs and abstract patterns.
The lot is the back-cover illustration of the auction's
catalogue and it has an estimate of $1,000,000 to $1,500,000. It sold for $1,426,500.
Lot 8, Pintura constructiva," by Joaquin Torres-Garcia, oil on canvas,
18 3/8 by 22 inches, 1930
One of the most
beautiful paintings in this auction is Lot 8, "Pintura constructiva,"
by the Uruguayan artist Joaquin Torres-Garcia. An oil on
canvas, it measures 18 3/8 by 22 inches and was painted in 1930.
In Barcelona, the artist and Rafael Barradas founded vibracionisme
(vibrationism) that took, according to the catalogue entry, the dymamic
movement of the modern city and fragmented the picture plane into a
vortex of rapidly succeeding images. When he later moved to
New York, he got involved with Max Weber, Edgar Varese and Marcel
Duchamp in New York and then he moved to Paris where he founded with
Michel Seuphor, Circle
and Square, in 1929 and then Abstraction Creation
in 1931. His group then consisted of Piet Mondrian, Le
Corbusier, Antoine Pevsner and Amedée Ozenfant.
This lot has an estimate of $300,000 to $500,000. It sold for $542,500.
Lort 40, "La cuna (The Cradle)," by Leonora Carrington, painted wood
with mesh cloth, grommets and rope, 40 1/4 by 50 7/ by 26 inches, circa
1949
Lot 40 is a
cradle by Leonora Carrington (1917-2011) with Jose Horna (1912-1963),
painted wood withmesh cloth, grommets and rope, 40 1/4 by 50 7/8 by 26
inces. It was created circa 1949. It has an
estimate of $1,500,000 to $2,500,000.
It failed to sell.
Lot 64, "Navio
negreiro," by Candido Portinari, oil on canvas, 28 7/8 by 23 3/8
inches, 1950
Lot 64, "Navio
negreiro," is an oil on canvas by Candido Portinari (1903-1962) that
measures 28 7/89 by 23 3/8 inches. It was painted in 1950.
It is the cover illustration of the catalogue and has been
widely published. The painting depicts a slave ship and the artist did
murals for the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., and the United
Nations in New York. It has an estimateof $700,000 to
$900,000. It
sold for $1,142,500, breaking the previous world auction record for the
artist of $940,000 set at Sotheby's New York, November 16, 2005.
Lot
7, "Concierto," by Emilio Pettoruti, oil on canvas, 45 3/4 by 35 1/8
inches, 1941
Lot 7 is a
handsome still-life painting by the Argentine painter, Emilio Pettoruti
(1892-1971). Entitled "Concierto," it is an oil on canvas
that measures 45 3/4 by 35 1/8 inches and was painted in 1941.
It has an estimate of $300,000 to $500,000. It sold for $794,500,
setting a new world auction record for the artist, just over the
previous record of $782,500 set at Christie's New York November 19,
2008. Pettoruti served as director of the Museuo
Provincial de Bellas Artes in La Plata, Argentina, from 1930 to 1947.
Lot
260, "Untitled," by Tikashi Fukushima, oil on canvas, 38 by 29 3/4
inches
Lot 260 is a
striking, untilted oil on canvas by Tikashi Fukushima
(1920-2001). It measures 38 by 29 3/4 inches. it
has an estimate of $8,000 to $12,000. It failed to sell.
Lot
279, "Roca Bruja (Playa Naranjo, Guanacaste, Costa Rico), by Tomas
Sanchez, Lambda print, 59 by 41 1/4 inches, 2011
Lot 279 is a
very stunning photograph of the beach at Playa Naranjo, Guanacaste,
Costa Rico by Tomas Sanchez (b. 1948). It measures 59 by 41
1/4 inches and was taken in 2011. It has an
estimate of $12,000 to $18,000. It sold for $23,750.
Lot
4, "Bather Holding Up Her Kemban," by Miguel Covarrubias, gouache on
masonite, 29 3/4 inches square, circa 1934
Lot 4 is a good
gouache on masonite by Miguel Covarrubias (1904-1957).
Entitled "Bather Holding Up Her Kemban," it measures 29 3/4
inches square and was executed circa 1934. It was once in the
collection of Helena Rubenstein of New York and is property of the
Robert Brady Museum Foundation at Casa de la Torre, a 16th Century
Francescan monastery in Cuernavaca. Founded by Robert Brady,
who was a friend of Peggy Guggenheim, William Burroughs, and Allen
Ginsberg, it has more than 1,300 hundred works of art.
Covarrubias was a popular caricaturist and illustrator for Vanity Fair and The New Yorker.
The lot has an estimate of $300,000 to $400,000. It sold for $590,500.
Lot 80, "I
Cannot Disguise," by Yishai Jusidman, acrylic on wood carpeting, 90 12
by 79 by 67 inches, 2003
One of the more
striking modern works in the auction is Lot 80, "I Cannot Disguise," by
Yishai Jusidman (b. 1963), a Mexican artist. An acrylic on
wood carpeting, it measures 90 1/2 by 79 by 67 inches and was created
in 2003. It has an estimate of $25,000 to $35,000. It sold for $43,750, a world
auction record for the artist.
Lot
51, "Untitled," by Lolo Soldevilla, painted wood with metal rods, 16
1/2 inches high, 1954
Lot 51 is an
attractive, untitled wood sculpture with metal rods by Lolo Soldevilla
(1901-1971). It is 16 1/2 inches high and was created in
1954. It has a modest estimate of $30,000 to $40,000.
It sold for
$80,500, a world auction record for the artist.
Lot
27, "In the way of Harmony," by Pablo Atchugarry, white
Carrara marble, 80 inches high, 2008
Lot 27 is a magnificent white Carrara marble sculpture by Pablo
Atchugarry (b. 1954) in his virtuouso pleated style. It was
executed in 2008 and is 80 inches high. It has an estimate of
$120,000 to $180,000. It sold for $194,500.
Lot 56, "Volumen virtual," by JulioLe Parc, painted wood, 76 inches
high, 1960-1972
Lot 56, "Volumen
virtual," is an extremely attractive wood sculpture, painted, white, by
Julio Le Parc (b. 1928). It is 76 inches high and
was executed between 1960 and 1972. It has an
estimate of $120,000 and $180,000. It
sold for $194,500.
Lot
66, "Untitled," by Frans Krajcberg, painted wood relief, 66 1/2 by 58
14 by 20 inches
Lot 66 is an
untitled painted wood relief by Frans Krajcberg (b. 1921) that is very
arresting and bold. It measures 66 1/2 by 58 1/4 inches by 20
inches. It has an estimate of $80,000 to $120,000. It sold for $86,500.
Lot
81, "Molino de viento," by Los Carpinteros, mixed media installation,
metal pots withlids, wood, fan blades, metal rods and steel cable, 142
inches high, 1998
Lot 81, "Molino de
viento," is a mixed media installation by the Cuban collective known as
Los Carpinteros that consists of Dagoberto Rodriguez (b. 1969), Marcos
Castillo (b. 1971) and Alexander Arrechea (b. 1970).
The lot is 142 inches high and was created in 1998.
It has an estimate of $40,000 to $60,000. It sold for $98,500.
Lot
5, Desnudo reclinado," by Francisco Zuniga, Xaltocan stone, 16 3/8 by
38 by 22 inches, 1959
Lot 5 is an
unusually fine sculpture by Francisco Zuniga (1912-1998) who usually
paints or sculpts old peasant women ad nauseum. Entitled
"Desnudo reclinado," it is made of Xaltocan stone and measures 16 3/8
by 38 by 22 inches and was created in 1959. It has an
estimamte of $80,000 to $120,000. It sold for $314,500.
See The City
Review article on the Spring 2010 Latin American Art auction at
Christie's
See The
City Review article on the Fall 2009 Latin American Art auction at
Christie's
See The
City Review article on the Fall 2009 Latin American Art Auction at
Sotheby's
See The City
Review article on the Spring 2009 Latin American Art auction at
Sotheby's
See The City
Review article on the Fall 2008 Latin American Art auction at Sotheby's
See The City
Review article on the Fall 2008 Latin American Art auction at Christie's
See The City
Review article on the Spring 2008 Latin American Art auction at
Sotheby's
See The
City Review article on the Spring 2008 Latin American Art auction at
Christie's
See The City
Review article on the Fall 2007 Latin American Art auction at Christie's
See The City
Review article on the Fall 2007 Latin American Art auction at Sotheby's
See The City
Review article on the Spring 2007 Latin American Art auction at
Christie's
See The City
Review article on the Fall 2006 Latin American Art auction at Sotheby's
See The City
Review article on the Fall 2006 Latin American Art auction at Christie's
See The City
Review article on the Spring 2005 Latin American Art auction at
Sotheby's
See The City
Review article on the Fall 2005 Latin American Art auction at Sotheby's
See The City
Review article on the Fall 2005 Latin American Art auction at Christie's
See The City
Review article on the Fall 2004 Latin American Art auction at Sotheby's
See The City
Review Article on the Spring 2004 Latin American Art auction at
Sotheby's
See The City
Review article on the Fall 2003 Latin American Art auction at Sotheby's
See The City
Review article on the Fall 2003 Latin American Art auction at Christie's
See The City
Review article on the Spring 2003 Latin American Art auction at
Christie's
See The City
Review article on the Spring 2003 Latin American Art auction at
Sotheby's
See The City
Review article on the Fall 2002 Latin American Art auction at Sotheby's
See The City
Review article on the Fall 2002 Latin American Art auction at Christie's
See The City
Review article on the Spring 2002 Latin American Art auction at
Sotheby's
See The City
Review article on the Spring 2002 Latin American Art auction at
Christie's
See The City
Review article on the Fall 2001 Latin American Art evening auction at
Sotheby's
See The City
Review article on the November 19, 2001 Latin American Art evening
auction at Christie's
See The City
Review article on the Latin American Art evening Auction at Sotheby's
in the spring of 2001
See The City
Review article on the Latin American Art evening auction at Christie's,
May 30, 2001
See The City
Review article on the Spring 2000 Latin American Art auction at
Christie's
See The City
Review article on The Latin American Sale at Christie's in New York in
June, 1999
