Today and tomorrow, May 4-5, in New York held a series of trades Christie's «The Art of impressionism and modernism", which will be exhibited masterpieces of world art. May 4 in the afternoon trades appear to public private American collection of Mrs. Sidney Frances Brody. Following on 5 May will Auctions "Works on Paper, including the property Mrs. Sidney F. Brody" and "Day trading art impressionism and modernism».

• Edvard Munch
  abundance. 1899-1900
  canvas. 120 x 140
  Christie's. 04/05/2010. Lot № 47
  estimate: 25-35 million dollars
• Alberto Giacometti
  hand. 1947-1949
  bronze, green and brown patina. An. 71
  Christie's. 04/05/2010. Lot № 30
  estimate: 10-15 million dollars

On the evening auction "Art of Impressionism and Modernism" will be exhibited painting by Edvard Munch Abundance ». This is one of the most outstanding works of the artist, are today in private collections, estimeyt it is 25-35 million. Among the top auction lots - a sculpture of Alberto Giacometti's "Hand" 1947-1949 years. (Estimate of 10-15 million dollars), the canvas of Pablo Picasso's "Woman Seated in an armchair with a cat" in 1964 (estimate 10-15 million), the work of Pierre-Auguste Renoir's "Reclining Nude" in 1903 (estimate 7-9 million), and others.

Collection Lady Frances Sidney Brody

Collection Mrs. Sidney F. Brody, includes many canonical works leading artists of the era of modernism, including Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Alberto Giacometti, Georges Braque, Edouard Vuillard, Marino Marini and Henry Moore. The total cost of collection is estimated at $ 150 million.

undisputed core of the collection are three works: the canvas of Pablo Picasso's "Nude on the background of the bust and green leaves, written in March 1932 (estimate on request ), painting by Henri Matisse's "Nude on a blue cushion" in 1924 (estimate 20-30 million) and the sculpture of Alberto Giacometti's "Big head Diego" in 1954 (estimate 25-35 million). These works, along with other important works of painting and sculpture modern style will be presented in a special section of the evening auction "The Art of Impressionism and Modernism," May 4, 2010, followed by a specially designated section of works on paper, May 5, 2010.

«To date, this collection is truly one of the foremost private collections of art modernists. Christie's was honored to present this collection to the public on behalf of the family Brody. It is difficult to say how important it is for the international community of collectors. Recent trading in London proved that among the leading collectors of the prices for rare works of outstanding quality with exceptional provenance continues to reach new heights. We have no doubt that the scale of this collection enflame interest of collectors from around the world, resulting in the auction hall in May this year, will gain new impressive results, "- said Edward Dolman, CEO of Christie's.

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Collection Mrs. Sidney F. Brody began with sculpture by Henry Moore - a Christmas gift from her husband Sidney, a well-known Los Angeles-based developer. "Sid has put it under the tree. And, I suppose, from that moment we hooked "- she recalled in a recent interview. The passion for collecting works of art and design objects modernism Mrs. Brody had inherited from his father, Albert Lasker. In the late 1940's a young couple Brody asked the legendary architect Archibald Quincy Jones and interior designer William (Bill) Haynes to design the interior of their home in Holmby Hills, California. Becoming a model design of its time - the middle of last century, the house served as a magnificent backdrop to the family's art collection, which grew over the years and turned into a brilliant collection of paintings, sculpture and graphics.

«Topics who had the good fortune to see a collection of Brody in their own home, discover the true talent of collectibles. From the sensuous love poetry, turned Picasso Marie Therese, to a seated nude by Matisse in the style of Michelangelo and the magnificent bronze masterpieces by Giacometti - each room reflects a refined talent and ability to understand the art "- recalls Christopher Burge, honorary chairman of Christie's, which first visited the house of Brody autumn 1978.

Family Brody - loyal art patrons - were patrons of the District Museum of Art in Los Angeles (LACMA) and Arts Council (UCLA). Later, Mrs. Brody was also the manager of the patron Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens in San Marino, California. She died at age 93 in November 2009. In support of research conducted by Huntington Library in education, arts, humanities, and botanical sciences, part of the proceeds from the sale of the collection of Mrs. Sidney F. Brody will be donated to this organization.

• Pablo Picasso
  Nude on a background of the bust and green leaves. 1932
  canvas. 162 x 130
  Christie's. 04/05/2010. Lot № 6

Pearl Collection Mrs. Brody is a painting by Pablo Picasso's "Nude on a background of the bust and green leaves. This large-scale portrait of the artist's mistress Marie-Therese Walter is widely recognized as one of the most significant works by Picasso, he wrote in 1932. The portrait, executed in rich blue, pink and green, - a sophisticated product with a deep sensual overtones, which serves as a vivid evidence of the romantic feelings of the artist to his young muse. The figure of the sleeping Marie-Thérèse, enclosed in a black outline, occupies the lower left part of the canvas, while above it stands a sculpture statue on a pedestal, and a philodendron leaves barely discern the outlines of another woman's face. Picasso completed work on the painting 8 March 1932. This date refers to one of the most productive periods of his creativity. A year before he celebrated his 50-year anniversary and began preparing for a retrospective exhibition at the gallery of Georges Petit, scheduled for June 1932.

Family Brody bought this work in 1950 directly from an authorized dealer of Picasso. Subsequently, the portrait has become a kind of center for their future collections. In the U.S., it is an outstanding work exhibited only once - in the retrospective exhibition "Happy Birthday, Mr. Picasso", marking the 80 th anniversary of the artist and was supported by the Arts Council, University of California at Los Angeles.

Conor Jordan, the head of the New York Department of impressionist and modernist art Christie's, says: "Christie's is an honor to put for auction this wonderful work of Picasso. At our auctions often get the artist's works, dating from 1932, and relating to one of the most important periods of his creativity, but this portrait of Marie-Thérèse - this is truly an outstanding work of art. Upcoming auctions that are billed "Nude on the background of the bust and the green leaves, become a unique opportunity for collectors to supplement their collection a true masterpiece, which almost was not known to the public since its establishment».

• Henri Matisse
  Nude on a blue pillow. 1924
  canvas. 72 x 58
  Christie's. 04/05/2010. Lot number 22
  estimate: 20-30 million dollars

Another top lot coming auction will be painting by Henri Matisse's "Nude on a blue cushion", recently appeared on the market a few samples of the artist's 1920 this class. The picture, written in 1924, rich color palette and exquisite lines - the characteristics of the best works of the artist in a series of "Odalisque", on which he worked in Nice at this time. The pose of the model, which is shown with crossed behind his head with his hands and one foot reminds one of the most famous bronze sculptures, Matisse's "Large Seated Nude". Works by Matisse, it has established in this period, enjoyed on the art market in high demand. Over the past three years at Christie's auction price records were set twice in the works by the artist - in November 2007 for an amount of 33,6 million dollars at auction went painting "Harmony in Blue" in 1937, and in February 2009 painting "Daffodils and tablecloth blue and pink colors "was sold for 45.2 million.

• Alberto Giacometti
  Big head Diego. 1954
  Bronze. V. 65
  Christie's. 04/05/2010. Lot № 13
  estimate: 25-35 million dollars

Top lot in the section is a bronze sculpture "Big head Diego" Alberto Giacometti - one of the most famous image of the sculptor's brother. The work, cast in bronze in 1954, is considered one of the earliest works by Giacometti made them into a new and revolutionary way, through which he tried to achieve more realism in the mapping of human figures and faces. Through this way, depending on the angle of the consideration of the audience there are two very different image of the model.

Conor Jordan, the head of the New York Department of impressionist and modernist art Christie's, said: "This, the only its kind, sculptural portrait of Giacometti's brother from the collection of Mrs. Brody is inherent in a stunning emotional charge. Monumental in size and at the same time fragile sculpture with a characteristically rough surface bisecting the space around him like a knife. This work will adorn any collection of art of XX century ».

• Alberto Giacometti
  Cat. 1951
  Bronze. An. 80
  Christie's. 04/05/2010. Lot № 4
  estimate: 12-18 million dollars

As a counterpoint to the kind of monumentality and grandeur of "Big head Diego" for sale also exhibited early Giacometti sculpture, entitled "Cat" (estimate 12-18 million dollars). The sculptor created a unique image of the exhausted animal - the sculpture seems elongated and stretched like a string. Despite the fact that the dimensions of sculpture rather impressive (less than one meter), this image inspired by the writer Jean Genet at the witty remark that such a cat "can easily get through a mouse hole».

"Self-Portrait" by Jean Edouard Vuillard (1868-1940) - a vivid example of early works of the founder of "Nabi", written deliberately sharp strokes of yellow and orange colors. Completed in late 1890, the portrait is an example of successful and innovative approach to the choice of colors Vuillard, although the merits of its creation Fauves will ascribe to themselves as much as 15 years later. The work of this level rarely appear on the market, and demand is high, from both private collectors and museums (estimate 1,2-1,8 million dollars).

Bronze sculpture Marino Marini (1901-1980) entitled "The Little Horseman. Working height of about half a meter made on favorite theme of the sculptor, and is characteristic of Marini meticulous attention to detail. It is an excellent example of his contribution to the art of sculpture XX century (estimate 1,5-2 million dollars).

«Family" by Henry Moore (1898-1986) - a small bronze composition, created artist for the exhibition in the gallery at Berkeley in 1945. It is generally recognized is considered to be one of the most outstanding works Mura small size, this sculpture was presented to Sidney Brody to his young wife as a Christmas gift and was one of the "benchmarks" for their future collections (estimate 600-800 thousand dollars).

A rare collection of six paintings by Pablo Picasso (1881-1973), including ink sketch for the painting "Seated with folded arms" 1902-1903 years (estimate 200-300 thousand dollars). Other sketches should also note the work of "the old man standing with arms crossed" (estimate 120-160 thousand dollars), as well as "Nude with a bust" (estimate 120-160 thousand dollars).

Among other works of art from the collection of Mrs. Brody traded exhibited works by Georges Braque, Edgar Degas, Modigliani, James Ensor and many others. Particularly noteworthy painting by Georges Braque "Pavilion", which depicts a scene in the garden against a background of braided vines veranda (estimate 3-5 million dollars), two bronze sculptures by Edgar Degas - Dancers at Rest "(estimate 600-800 thousand dollars ) and "masseuse" (estimate 300-500 thousand dollars). In addition, the attention of collectors will be offered watercolor by Amedeo Modigliani "A couple» (La ménage) 1915 (estimate 250-350 thousand dollars) and James Ensor painting "Still Life with Fruit and kompotnitsey" in 1909 (estimate 100-150 thousand dollars).

Source : Press Release Christie's