Art/Auctions: Contemporary Art evening auction at Christie's New York, November 17, 2016

Contemporary Art Morning Auction

Christie's New York

10 AM, May 18, 2017

Sale 14188

Motherwell 520

Lot 520, "Open No. 164," by Robert Motherwell, acrylic on canvas, 60 by 71 inches, 1977

By Carter B. Horsley

The May 18, 2017 Contemporary Art Morning Auction at Christie's New York is highlighted by several fine works by Motherwell and Frank Stella and excellent works by Frankenthaler and Hofmann.

Lot 520 is a strong abstraction by Robert Motherwell (1915-1991) entitled "Open No. 164." An acrylic on canvas, it measures 60 by 71 inches and was painted in 1977. It has an estimate of $800,000 to $1,200,000. It sold for $907,500 including the buyer's premium as do all results mentioned in this article.

The sale total was $44,187,000.

Lot 559, "Automatic Oracle," by Robert Motherwell, acyrlic on canvas, 96 by 60 inches, 1989

Lot 559 is a large acrylic on canvas by Motherwell that is entitled "Automatic Oracle." It measures 96 by 60 inches and was painted in 1989. It has an estimate of $700,000 to $1,000,000. It sold for $691,500.

Lot 553, "Pall Mall on Blue," by Motherwell, acrylic and printed paper collage on canvas board, 30 by 12 inches, 1972

A third Motherwell is a very strong acrylic and printed paper collage on canvas board entitled "Pall Mall on Blue." It measures 30 by 12 inches and was created in 1972. It has an estimate of $80,000 to $120,000. It failed to sell.

Lot 562, "Cauldron," by Lee Krasner, oil on canvas, 60 3/4 by 50 inches, 1956

Lot 562 is a superb oil on canvas by Lee Krasner (1908-1984)(see The City Review article) entitled "Cauldron." It measures 60 3/4 by 50 inches and was painted in 1956. It was included in 1983-5 Krasner exhibition at the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Chrysler Museum in Norfolk, the Phoenix Art Museum, and the Museum of Modern Art in New York. It has an estimate of $1,000,000 to $1,500,000. It sold for $1,447,500.

Lot 569, "Site Avec 4 Personnages," by Jean Dubuffet, acrylic on paper mounted on canvas, 19 3/4 by 28 5/8 inches, 1981

The auction's most vibrant work is Lot 569, "Site Avec 4 Personnages," by Jean Dubuffet (1901-1985). An acrylic on paper mounted on canvas, it measures 19 3/4 by 28 5/8 inches and was painted in 1981. It has an estimate of $120,000 to $180,000. It sold for $187,500.

Lot 545, "Yellow Saga," by Helen Frankenthaler, acrylic on canvas, 70 by 95 inches, 1972

Lot 545, "Yellow Saga," is a excellent abstraction by Helen Frankenthaler (1928-2011) that is a neat variation of themes developed by Morris Louis. An acrylic on canvas, it measures 70 by 95 inches and was painted in 1972. It has an estimate of $600,000 to $800,000. It sold for $943,500.

Lot 558, "Gateway," by Helen Frankenthaler, acrylic on canvas, 49 1/2 by 91 1/8 inches, 1978

Lot 559 is a large abstraction by Frankenthaler entitled "Gateway." An acrylic on canvas, it measures 49 1/2 by 91 1/8 inches and was painted in 1978. It has an estimate of $400,000 to $600,000. It sold for $787,500.

Lot 521, "Outlook to the Sea," by Hans Hofmann, oil on canvas, 60 by 52 inches, 1964

Lot 521, "Outlook to the Sea," is an oil on canvas by Hans Hofmann (1880-1966) that is the cover illustration of the catalogue. It measures 60 by 52 inches and was painted in 1964. It has an estimate of $1,800,000 to $2,500,000. It sold for $2,047,500.

Lot 514, "Agadir (small version)," by Frank Stella, fluorescent alkyd on canvas, 21 1/8 inches square, 1965

Lot 514 "Agadir (small version)," is a fluorescent alkyd on canvas by Frank Stella (b. 1936) that measures 21 1/8 inches square and was painted in 1965. It has an estimate of $600,000 to $800,000. It sold for $607,500.

Lot 538, "Fedallah," by Stella, painted aluminum, 91 3/8 by 69 1/2 by 28 1/2 inches, 1988

At much more impressive Stella is Lot 538, a large and very colorful painted aluminum sculpture. Entitled "Fedallah," it measures 91 3/8 by 69 1/2 by 28 1/2 inches. It was created in 1988. It is named after a character in "Moby Dick." It has an estimate of $400,000 to $600,000. It sold for $427,500.

Lot 551, "Maquette I for Leblon," by Stella, oil, lacquer and oilstick on corrugated aluminum, 34 by 56 3/8 by 5 1/8 inches, 1975

A third, fine Stella is Lot 551, an oil, lacquer and oilstick on corrugate aluminum that is entitled "Maquette I for Leblon." Created in 1975, it measures 34 by 56 3/8 by 5 1/8 inches. It has an estimate of $150,000 to $200,000. It sold for $150,000.

See The City Review article on the Spring 2017 Contemporary Art evening auction at Christie's New York

See The City Review article on the Spring 2017 Contemporary Art evening auction at Sotheby's New York

See The City Review article on the Fall 2016 Contemporary Art evening auction at Christie's New York
See The City Review article on the Spring 2016 Contemporary Art evening auction at Christie's New York

See The City Review article on the Sotheby's evening auction May 10, 2000 of Impressionist & Modern Art

See The City Review article on the May 11, 2000 auction at Sotheby's of Impressionist & Modern Art, Part 2

See The City Review article on the Sotheby's Impressionist & Modern Art Auction, Part I, Nov. 11, 1999

See The City Review article on Part Two of the Sotheby's auction November 11, 1999 of Impressionist & Modern Art

See The City Review article on the Christie's Nov. 8, 1999 evening sale of Impressionist & Post Impressionist Art

See The City Review article on the morning auction Nov. 9, 1999 of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist Art at Christie's

See The City Review article on the afternoon auction Nov. 9, 1999 of Impressionist and Twentieth Century Works on Paper at Christie's

See The City Review article on the Christie's Nov. 9, 1999 evening auction of Twentieth Century Art

See The City Review article on the Christie's Nov. 10, 1999 day auction of Twentieth Century Art

See The City Review analysis of Part 1 of the Sotheby's auction May 11, 1999 of Impressionist and Modern Art

See The City Review analysis of Part 2 of the Sotheby's May 12, 1999 auction of Impressionist and Modern Art

See The City Review article on the Christie's May 12, 1999 auction of Impressionist Art and 19th Century Art

See The City Review of the Christie's May 13, 1999 auction of 20th Century and Modern Art

Recap of the Spring 1998 Impressionist and Modern Auctions

Use the Search Box below to quickly look up articles at this site on specific artists, architects, authors, buildings and other subjects

Home Page of The City Review