Sotheby’s: The Collection of A. Alfred Taubman – The Life of a Visionary – New York, 4 November

A. Alfred Taubman assembled an extraordinary collection of works by the most revered artists of all time including Raphael, Gainsborough, Degas, Picasso, Matisse, Rothko, Johns, Pollock and De Kooning. Mr Taubman’s collecting philosophy was simple — he bought the works he liked — but the end result is a remarkable and diverse assemblage that reveals Mr Taubman’s architectural eye as well as his deep appreciation for the human figure, vibrant colour and above all, beauty.  The Collection of A. Alfred Taubman will be offered at Sotheby’s beginning 4 November in New York.  

A dedicated evening auction of property from the Estate of A. Alfred Taubman will be led by a selection of rare examples of Impressionist & Modern Art, foremost among them Amedeo Modigliani’s outstanding Paulette Jourdain, Pablo Picasso’s exceptional Femme assise sur une chaise, and an important pastel by Edgar Degas, Danseuses en blanc.  This distinguished collection also features stunning paintings and sculptures from the most influential figures in Contemporary and American Art: from Willem de Kooning, Mark Rothko, and Jackson Pollock, to Jasper Johns, Frank Stella, and Roy Lichtenstein, the Contemporary works in the Taubman Collection chart the course of artistic innovation in the 20th century.

Sotheby’s to offer Matisse “Odalisque au fauteuil noir”, est. £9-12 milion – London, Feb. 2015

Una delle celebri “Odalische” di Matisse all’asta “Impressionist & Modern Art Evening Sale” di Sotheby’s a Londra il 3 febbraio 2015.

Helena Newman, co-direttore del dipartimento “Impressionist & Modern Art Worldwide” di Sotheby’s, ha dichiarato: “Dopo il più alto risultato complessivo mai raggiunto dal nostro dipartimento, con l’asta di New York “Impressionist & Modern Art Evening Sale”, possiamo ragionevolmente prevedere un altro record a Londra con Matisse. Questo eccezionale dipinto è uno dei più belli del celebre “ciclo delle Odalische” . Il 2014 è stato un anno estremamente eccitante per il mercato dell’arte impressionista e moderna che Sotheby’s continua a guidare per il quarto anno consecutivo”.

Il ritratto raffigurante la Principessa Nézy-Hamide Chawkat, nipote dell’ultimo sultano di Turchia, “Odalisque au fauteuil noir” (datato 1942 e stimato tra £ 9-12 milioni) è una delle più belle opere di Henri Matisse appartenente al suo famoso “ciclo delle Odalische” con il quale l’artista ha creato uno degli emblemi più riconoscibili dell’erotismo nell’arte moderna.

Matisse aveva incontrato per caso la Principessa Nézy, come veniva chiamata, e affascinato dal suo suggestivo sguardo, le chiese formalmente di posare per lui. Per i successivi due anni è stata la sua modella prediletta. E’ stato solo quando la principessa ha lasciato Nizza per sposarsi nel 1942 che Matisse ha cercato una nuova musa.

“Odalisca au fauteuil noir” riflette l’interesse di Matisse per l’Orientalismo, che aveva dapprima esplorato nel 1920 e che ha richiamato la sua attrazione per i colori vivaci.

“Io dipingo odalische per dipingere il nudo. Ma come fare del nudo, senza che questo appaia fittizio?. E poi le dipingo perché so che esistono realmente. Sono stato in Marocco e le ho viste” (Henri Matisse, 1929).

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One Of The Finest of Matisse’s Celebrated ‘Odalisque’ Paintings From the Peak of the Artist’s Career

A Highlight Unveiled Ahead of Sotheby’s London Impressionist & Modern Art Evening Sale 3rd February 2015. Helena Newman, Sotheby’s Co-Head, Impressionist & Modern Art Worldwide, said: “Following our highest-ever sale total for our Impressionist & Modern Art Evening Sale in New York, we are delighted to announce a highly desirable highlight of our forthcoming London sale, Henri Matisse’s Odalisque au fauteuil noir. This exquisitely coloured painting is one of the finest of the artist’s celebrated ‘Odalisque’ paintings to come to the market. 2014 has been an extremely exciting year for the Impressionist & Modern Art market, which Sotheby’s continues to lead for the fourth successive year, and it is with great anticipation that we look to our February 2015 sale.”

An exquisite portrait depicting Princess Nézy-Hamidé Chawkat, the great granddaughter of the last Sultan of Turkey, Odalisque au fauteuil noir (dated 1942 and estimated at £9-12m) is one of Henri Matisse’s finest paintings from his famed ‘Odalisque’ series, his depictions of the notorious concubine figure, with which he created one of the most recognisable emblems of eroticism in Modern art.

Princess Nézy, as she was known, was spotted in the street by Matisse in 1940, who was drawn to her striking dark looks. Following a formal request, the Princess’s grandmother granted permission for the princess to sit for Matisse – accompanied by a chaperone – and over the course of almost two years she became his favourite model. It was only when the princess left Nice to be married in 1942 that Matisse looked for a new model.

A dazzling composition of pattern and colour, Odalisque au fauteuil noir reflects Matisse’s interest in Orientalism, which he had first explored in the 1920s and drew on his attraction to the vibrant colours, fabric and patterns that were so evocative of the Orient.