In February, Sotheby's will be three drawings by Egon Schiele
ARTinvestment.RU   27 ноября 2012

Works auctioned Viennese Leopold Museum. The combined estimate of three works is 9-12 million. Bidding will take place in London on February 5

February 5, 2013 at Sotheby's London auction will present unique works of Egon Schiele. Performed in the most important period of creativity Schiele (1914-1917), they exhibit the impeccable craftsmanship, made famous artist, and together give an idea of ​​the freedom of style, technique and compositional daring that marked his best work.

Expose drawings for sale Leopold Museum in Vienna, which has the most comprehensive collection of works by Schiele. The combined estimate of three works 9-12 million dollars.

record price for the work of Egon Schiele on paper at the moment is - 11.35 million, or 5.42 million pounds (was sold at auction by Sotheby's in New York in 2007).

Helena Newman, Head of European Impressionist art and the beginning of XX century Sotheby's: «After the auction, Sotheby's in London in 2011, where Schiele's work "Houses with colorful laundry. Suburb II "was sold for a record 24.7 million pounds, we are continuing our partnership with the Museum of Leopold. At this time, we are putting up for auction three works of exceptional quality with impeccable provenance. Few artists can compete with Schiele in the dynamism and expressiveness works ».

Tobias Natter, director of the Leopold Museum and a leading researcher of art in Vienna early XX century:" The Leopold Museum has the most significant collection of works Schiele. Together with Elisabeth Leopold, we carefully examined the work and chose to auction these three figures, each of which - a vivid example of the impressive technology, composition and graphic skill Schiele. All of them belong to an important stage in his personal life and work of the artist ».

Vaynhoypl Peter, managing director of the Leopold Museum," The proceeds from the sale of these three studies will be used to finance the museum ».

COMPILATION headed paper "Lovers (Self-Portrait with Wally)» (Liebespaar; Selbstdarstellung mit Wally) 1914-1915 year. Estimate 6.5-8.5 million pounds reflects its rarity and exceptional quality. A striking double portrait of the artist and his model and mistress Valley, gouache and pencil, is one of the best works on paper by Schiele ever to appear on the market. Thanks outrageous color and powerful, daring execution, drawing gives the viewer feel confused artist, long and close relationship which came to an end.

From Valley (Walpurgis Noytsil) Schiele introduced his mentor and friend Gustav Klimt. A free spirit, a bright and dedicated woman later became a muse and lover of the artist. Her golden-brown hair and piercing blue-green eyes unmistakably recognizable as a number of studies that are crucial for this important period in the life of the artist. In 1912, Schiele been accused of numerous offenses, including crimes against public morality, and was sentenced to 21 days in jail. Many of my friends have turned away from him, but Valley remained faithful to him. Her dedication is firmly bound them. In 1914, Sheila decided to marry, and he had to leave Valley.

Apparently, at the time, when Schiele created this drawing (1914-1915), he was cared for Edith Harms, his future wife. Unity with Valley, shown in the product, it is a reflection of his feelings for her at that time, when she was irrevocably gone from his life. In this figure, Schiele, intensively using color to paper his innermost thoughts, turning them into deep discussions about human nature.

Egon Schiele Self-portrait in a green shirt with his eyes closed. 1914-1915 Sotheby's. 5.02.2013 Estimate: 1,8-2,5 million pounds Source: Press Release Sotheby's

«Self-portrait in a green shirt with his eyes closed» (Selbstdarstellung in grünem Hemd mit geschlossenen Augen) - the emotional work of the same period as the "Lovers." The work is estimated at 1.8-2.5 million pounds and shows Schiele inimitable skill in the technique of gouache.

In 1914, Schiele wrote a few self-portraits in bright bold poses. "Self-portrait in a green shirt" - a symbolic picture of himself with his eyes closed and his hands cocked - combines all the features of a self-portrait painted by an artist until 1915, and at the same time at the same time emphasizes the vulnerability and cunning website.

Egon Schiele Woman lying on her back with crossed arms and legs. 1918 Sotheby's. 5.02.2013 Estimate: 0,7-1 million pounds Source: Press Release Sotheby's

third work by Schiele, represented at the auction Leopold Museum - confident and elegant figure "girl lying on her back with arms crossed and feet» (Am Rücken liegendes Mädchen mit überkreuzten Armen und Beinen. 1918) with the estimate 0,7-1 million pounds. This is one of the last works of the artist. It is part of a series of line drawings depicting scantily clad female figures, in which overt sexuality combined with an unusual interpretation of the perspective that is characteristic of the later works by Schiele. Schiele scholar Jane Kallir said: "Schiele, like anyone else, can in one breath, in one motion, draw the contour of the whole figure».

Leopold Museum in Vienna is famous for one of the largest in the world collection of Austrian modernism. Especially proud of the museum - a collection of the most important works by Schiele. The museum houses more than 5,000 exhibits, which Professor Rudolf Leopold and his wife Elizabeth were collected for 50 years. This collection allows the formulation of a comprehensive impression of the Austrian art of the late century. In 1994, the Austrian government and the National Bank of Austria collection of Professor Leopold was transformed into a non-profit private foundation "Leopold Museum».

Source : Press Release Sotheby's