History

These Dali And Picasso Masterpieces To Fetch Millions At Auction

These unique paintings by Salvador Dali, Pablo Picasso, and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec are set to fetch millions at an auction in France at the end of the month.

In a statement obtained by Newsflash, the Arcturial auction house in Paris said: “On 28th and 29th June 2021, Artcurial will hold its major Impressionist & Modern Art and Post-War & Contemporary Art sales. The part dedicated to Modern Art will star two exceptional paintings by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec and Salvador Dali.”

Drawings by Paul Gauguin and Henri Matisse will also be up for grabs, as well as an oil canvas by Pablo Picasso called ‘Le verre taille sur fond rose’ (‘Cut glass on pink background’), which the co-founder of the Cubist movement ended 1922. The ceramic plates by Picasso will also be up for auction.

Cut glass on a pink background by Pablo Picasso from 1922. (Artcurial/Newsflash)

It has been estimated that it will sell for between EUR 550,000 and EUR 650,000 (GBP 473,700 and GBP 560,000). Another piece by the same artist, this one drawing done in 1933 and called ’Flutiste assise et dormeuse’ (‘Seated and sleeping flautist’), will also be up for auction.

Four pieces of furniture by Alberto Giacometti, including one piece made of bronze and marble called ‘Double console table for Teriade’, created between 1945 and 1950, has been estimated at between EUR 400,000 and 600,000 (GBP 344,500 and GBP 517,000).

A painting by Toulouse-Lautrec, called ‘Une operation du Docteur Pean a l’Hopital International – 1891’ (‘An operation by Doctor Pean at the International Hospital – 1891’) has been valued at between EUR 600,000 and EUR 900,000 (GBP 517,000 and 775,000 GBP).

Sewing machine with umbrellas in a surreal landscape by Salvador Dali from 1941. (Artcurial/Newsflash)

The works are part of the former Teriade collection, according to Arcturial. The Parisian auction house said: “Efstrathios Eleftheriades, known as Teriade (1897 – 1983), originally from the Greek island of Lesbos, was an art critic and publisher, who originally planned a career in law.

“He was passionate about fine art and the decorative arts, and fuelled his passion by going to literary cafes, museums and galleries. During the course of his work as a critic […] Teriade got to know some of the biggest contemporary artists of his day, including Picasso and Giacometti.

“He built close personal relationships with everyone and showed great commitment in promoting their work. Teriade developed a special friendship with Alberto Giacometti (1901 – 1966), from the artist’s earliest days; four pieces that spring from this relationship will be offered: two lamps, a wall light and a console table.

An operation by Doctor Pean at the International Hospital by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec from 1891. (Artcurial/Newsflash)

“The table, designed especially for Teriade at the end of the 1940s, displays a dialogue between the forged bronze structure and the light marble tops. The tool marks clearly visible on the dark bronze contrast subtly with the smooth appearance of the two light-coloured tops.

“A singular painter, meticulous to the extreme and shrouded in mystery, Salvador Dali (1904-1989) played a big part in the history of Surrealism and Modern art in the 20th century. A star lot in this Impressionist & Modern Art sale will be ‘Machine a coudre avec parapluies dans un payasage surrealiste’.

“This was part of a project for the film La Peniche de l’amour (Moontide), by Fritz Lang, which would be directed by Archie Mayo in 1942, with Jean Gabin in the leading role. In this oil on panel, Dali paints a dreamscape, emanating a sense of dread, with exaggerated shadows cast by the sewing machine and umbrellas appearing to move across the square. The artist employs a sombre palette, using mid-tones in shades of grey, black and light brown.

Double console table for Teriade – circa (1945/1950), by Alberto Giacometti. (Artcurial/Newsflash)

“Like a cinema projector, the harsh, white light coming from the distant horizon sheds a violent light on the scene, throwing the shadows of the umbrellas into sharp focus. Like birds of prey, these shadows invade the scene, featureless, empty and soulless.

“Finally, this sale will also offer a very rare piece by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (1864 – 1901) entitled ‘Une operation par le Docteur Pean a l’Hopital International’. Painted in 1891 and offered the same year by the artist to his doctor, Frederic Baumgarten, who appears in the picture, this painting in essence on card is a major discovery, as it has remained in the hands of the same doctor’s family ever since.

“Unique for its subject, this work of art was intended as an outstanding testimony to the hospital environment at that time. The lively style is also remarkable, with its colourful palette and successfully capturing the moment, all characteristics of Toulouse Lautrec’s art.”

Portrait Composition by George Condo from 2003. (Artcurial/Newsflash)

These works of art can be viewed by the public on Thursday 24th and Friday 25th of June from 11 AM to 7 PM and on Saturday 26th June from 11 AM to 6 PM, as well as on Sunday 27th June from 2 PM to 6 PM at the auction house, which is at 7 Rond-Point, on the Champs Elysees in Paris.

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