Prints PR Mar11

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For Immediate ReleasePress Release London

London | +44 (0)20 7293 6000 | Matthew Weigman | [email protected] Floris | [email protected]

Sothebys London Sale of Old Master, Modern & Contemporary

Prints To Include The Earliest Printed Star Charts,

A Pair of Rare Woodcuts by Albrecht Drer--Sale Also Features Superb Collection of Gauguin Prints

From The Collection Of Stanley J. Seeger--

Map of the Northern Sky; and Map of the Southern Sky by Albrecht Drer, circa 1515, estimate 120,000-180,000*

SOTHEBYS LONDON SALE of Old Master, Modern & Contemporary Prints, on Wednesday, 30

March, 2011, will present for sale the earliest printed star charts, in the form of a pair of extremely rare

woodcuts by Albrecht Drer depicting A Map of the Northern Sky and A Map of the Southern Sky. These

two celestial maps are the oldest printed star charts published in Europe. Dated circa 1515, they were

produced in Nuremberg under the patronage of the Holy Roman Emperor, Maximilian I, and were

the product of an innovative collaboration between Drer, the eminent Viennese mathematician,

cartographer and astronomer Johannes Stabius and German astronomer Conrad Heinfogel. Thewoodcuts depict the northern and southern skies known to European astronomers at the time, and


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combine with great skill the accuracy of the stars with constellation figures as visualised by the Greeks

and Romans. There are only ten other examples of the 1515 star charts extant in institutions

worldwide, and the present set estimated at 120,000-180,000 is one of only three recorded with

contemporary hand-colouring. Aided by Drer's reputation, these star maps were highly influential

and became a source of inspiration for successive mapmakers.

Distilling iconography influenced by Antiquity, Greek geometrical studies and Islamic scholarship,

the woodcuts display Drer's virtuosity and interest in science and mathematics. The maps show the

stars of the forty-eight constellations based on Ptolemy's second century star catalogue, the Almagest.

Early western maps of the skies showing both stars and constellation figures appeared circa 1440;

however, the present maps were the first to chart a coordinate system with accurate placement of the

stars. They attest to the role that Nuremberg played as a centre of printing as well as for the

manufacture of scientific instruments.

The map of the northern hemisphere is richly decorated with the twelve signs of the Zodiac, to be read

counter-clockwise. Four ancient authorities appear at each corner of the northern chart, each in their

national dress, holding a celestial globe: Aratus representing the Greek, Ptolemy the Egyptian, Al-Sufi

the Islamic and Marcus Manilius the Roman tradition of astronomy. The map of the southern

hemisphere displays distinctly fewer stars and constellations. At the time, Europeans had not yet

charted the southern sky; this is reflected in the pared down composition of the map, with its areas of

vacant constellations.

Further works by Drer include Melancolia I(est. 40,000-60,000), Saint Jerome in his study (est. 80,000-

120,000) engravings dated 1514 and the complete set of twelve woodcuts depicting The Large

Passion, circa 1496-1511 (est. 120,000-180,000).

The sale features a large group of prints by Rembrandt Harmensz. Van

Rijn. Leading the selection is an etching with drypoint of Saint Jerome

reading in an Italian Landscape, circa 1653, a fine impression of the second

(final) state, estimated at 35,000-50,000 (pictured left); The Windmill, an

etching dated 1641, a fine, early impression of the only state (est.

18,000-22,000); and Landscape with Haybarn and Flock of Sheep, a rare

etching from 1652 (est. 20,000-30,000).


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A magnificent collection of works on paper by Paul Gauguin

that incorporates the artist's three most significant categories of

print-making activity leads the modern section of the sale.

Executed in France and Tahiti between 1894 and 1902, the works

are among the finest within Gauguins printed oeuvre, and

together they serve to represent the most important collection of

Gauguin prints to be offered at auction for over a generation.

From the Collection of Stanley J. Seeger, the ten works have a

well-recorded provenance that can be traced back in most cases

directly to the artist. Monotypes, traced monotypes and

woodcuts were developed by Gauguin to a level of artistic innovation unseen among his

contemporaries. When he arrived in Tahiti without any form of printing press, Gauguin explored and

developed his printmaking techniques to produce the traced monotype, or printed drawing as the

artist also called the method which allowed him to print clear linear compositions with coloured

backgrounds. Crouching Tahitian Woman, 1901-02, estimated at 180,000-220,000, is a superb realisation

of this process (recto, pictured above). Printed in sanguine and black, and with tracing in red crayon

and pencil on the reverse, the work demonstrates Gauguin's pioneering experimentation in this

medium. (Separate press release available.)

Seven prints by Edvard Munch are distinguished by

The Sick Child, regarded by the artist as his most

important graphic work (pictured left). The lithograph,

printed in black and yellow, and dated 1896, is

estimated at 150,000-200,000. It depicts the tragic

death of the artists sister, Sophie. The trauma of her

death haunted Munch throughout his entire life and is

a recurrent and major theme in his graphic and

painted works. He began work on a canvas in 1885 and the subject culminated in 1896 in his most

famous coloured lithograph, of which this impression focuses on Sophies head in the same

orientation as the paintings, unlike other prints of the subject which are all in reverse. Munch

demonstrated great technical expertise by producing a total of five colour stones which allow a large

number of variations, the combination of colours expressing varying psychological moods and


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generating different emotional responses. Further works by Munch include Woman Bathing, an

extremely rare woodcut printed in black, green and blue with traces of red crayon (est. 25,000-

35,000), the woodcut Young Couple in a Spruce Forest (est. 70,000-90,000) and The Two Human Beings.

The Lonely Ones, a drypoint from 1894 (est. 20,000-25,000).

The stand-out print by Pablo Picasso in the sale is an

extremely rare linocut, Portrait de Jacqueline (pictured left).

Printed in white with extensive hand-additions in black

china ink, it dates to 1963 and depicts Jacqueline Roche,

who had become the artist's second wife in 1961. Picasso

had fully embraced the linocut technique by the time the

present work was produced. An example of the rinced

proof, or preuve rince, it belongs to a small group of

atmospheric linocuts that were created by printing in

creamy white ink on a sheet of paper, then brushing over

the sheet with encre de Chine. Once this had dried, Picasso

rinsed the sheet with water to remove the black ink from the printed areas. The black china ink in the

unprinted areas was absorbed by the paper, creating a negative image of the original composition.Portrait de Jacqueline shows her characteristic and beautiful profile. Only six other proofs of this print

are recorded, each of them different due to the volatile nature of the technique. Estimated at 80,000-

120,000, this example is particularly remarkable due to the strength of its contrasts. Other top works

by Picasso include La femme la fentre, an aquatint dated 1952 (est. 60,000-80,000) and LEgyptienne,

Torse de femme, an aquatint from 1953 (est. 70,000-90,000).

A complete deluxe album comprising 50 etchings with aquatint printed

in colours of Marc Chagall's Celui qui dit les choses sans rien dire is

estimated at 80,000-120,000 (pictured right). This album was one of

four personal copies belonging to Louis Aragon as author of the text. It

contains his annotations, with his Christian name crossed out on the

justification page. Gifted by the Surrealist author to his housekeeper for

roughly thirty years, Maria Macorig, the album was purchased by

Macorig's son-in-law circa 1981. Maria would have experienced the


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inner circle of the Paris artworld during the time she worked for Aragon, and the generosity of her

employer suggests a deep level of respect and appreciation in their relationship.

The Contemporary section of the sale includes a group of seven

works by Lucian Freud, comprising a series of etchings of landscapes

and figure studies. Painter's Garden from 2003-2004 is a densely

worked view of trees, foliage and bench, all the more powerful for a

vantage point that does not include a horizon line (est. 30,000-

50,000). Bella in her Pluto Shirt, from 1995, provides a sharp contrast

with its stark monochromatic balance between highly worked areas

such as the wicker chair and grass-like background, and the white T-

shirt with its playful image of Pluto the dog (est. 35,000-45,000, pictured left).

Leading the Pop Art group are three works by Roy Lichtenstein, all

dating from the 1990s. Two Nudes (pictured right) and Nude Reading,

both relief prints in colours, 1994, are estimated at 80,000-120,000 and

40,000-60,000 respectively. Iconic subjects such as Marilyn (est. 40,000-

60,000) and The Scream (est. 100,000-150,000, pictured below) headlinea group of 21 works by Andy Warhol.

# # #*Estimates do not include buyers premium

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