Top lots of evening auctions Christie's “The Art of Impressionism and Modernism” May 6, will be the work of Matisse, Giacometti and Miro from a private collection

Outstanding works of Henri Matisse, Alberto Giacometti and Joan Miro headed the list of lots, put in the evening auction Christie's «The Art of Impressionism and Modernism», which will be held May 6 in New York. All three are masterpieces - paintings and two sculptures - come from the private collection Kerel Dzhimbel Lebvort known New York art patron, whose collection was a lot of works of leading artists and sculptors of the XIX and XX centuries. Kerel Lebvort was the daughter of Bernard Dzhimbela, the owner of the famous department store on Broadway.

Among the outstanding works in this section deserve special attention rare bronze bust on a narrow pedestal «Bust of Diego (Stella III)» Alberto Giacometti ( estimeyt 4,5-6,5 million dollars ), early canvas by Henri Matisse «Nude with a white towel» ( 2-3 million dollars ) and a model for a monumental sculpture of Joan Miro, 1971, entitled «The model character» ( 300-400 thousand U.S. ).

Guy Bennett, head of the International Department of impressionist and modernist Christie's, said: «Price records made at the February auction of the year, when Christie's exhibited the collection of Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Berger, in once again proven that collectors with unfading interest in the quality of the work of recognized masters of impressionism and modernism from private collections. Each of the works exhibited at the upcoming auction represents a turning point in his work. For us to stand on the tendering of the works of such well-chosen art collection - it is a great honor ».

«Nude with a white towel» Henri Matisse - is a magnificent piece proto-fovistskogo period of the artist. Participated in landmark exhibitions that took place in Europe and the United States, including the Matisse retrospective exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art in 1992. At the time of the creation of the canvases by Matisse experimented with colors and techniques of causing strokes. This finding subsequently became the basis of style fovistskogo movement. The painting was painted around 1901-1903 years, it was extremely difficult for an artist in the financial plan. Originally «Nude with a white towel» belonged to the artist Jean PUY, friend Matisse, who was also a member of the circle fovistov.

«Bust of Diego (Stella III)» Alberto Giacometti has become part of a collection of family Lebvort in 1959 and since then over 35 years was not available to the public. Created in 1957-1958 years, and cast in bronze in 1958, the bust depicting brother Diego Giacometti is one of the few examples of the sculptor, in which the applied technique, in which the bust is on a high and narrow pedestal that allows the viewer to look into the eyes of literally sculpture. Of the three similar busts it is this is the highest, seems to be the most robust and complete.

Just as in the case of «naked» Matisse, Giacometti bust of the work is kind of turning point in the works of the sculptor. By the end of 1940's Giacometti came to the conclusion that had already exhausted all its possibilities, and thinning of elongated sculptures that have dominated his work after the war. In the search for new expressive means Giacometti turned to bust people for whom he posed the relatives, friends and guests coming model. That this work has enabled the sculptor to create an updated image of the universal modern man.

«Model of Character» Joan Miro is a unique model for monumental sculptures and comic female figure. This model, created in 1971, quotes the elements of earlier sculptures by Miro and at the same time, goes back to the way Mother groteskovomu Ubyu - character plays Antonin Artaud «King Ubyu». This painting sculpture (about 30 cm in height) at the same time attracts the attention and affects their disproportionate anatomical features. The work was created at a time when Miro moved to a new house with a large studio in Palma de Mallorca. This move allowed him to reflect on the creation of larger works, which were exhibited on the city streets, in parks and squares.

Source: Press Releases Christie's