Old Masters to Modern Icons

27 May – 3 June

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This May in Paris, Christie’s presents Old Masters to Modern Icons, a series of four auctions offering art from the Renaissance to the 20th century. Led by extraordinary examples from the Tiepolo family, a collection of important works by Jean Arp and a Pointillist masterpiece, explore the evolution of artistic expression through the centuries at our Avenue Matignon galleries.

Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo’s Punchinello with children and a horse stars alongside his father Giovanni Battista’s depiction of the Holy Family in our Dessins anciens et du XIXe siècle sale on 27 May. Other key names featured include Jean-Baptiste Greuze, Claude Gillot, Abraham Bloemaert, Quellinus and Hans Rottenhammer. On 3 June, Greta Stroeh’s collection of Jean Arp sculptures, works on paper, lithographs and etchings comes to auction, offering an extensive survey of more than 30 years of Arp’s oeuvre. Greta Stroeh was a crucial figure in the creation of the Arp Foundation in 1979. This ensemble was built upon her friendship with the artist and a discerning taste for modern art, evident in the top lot of the sale – a fine bronze example from Arp’s iconic Torse series.

Coinciding with the Salon du Dessin art fair, our Œuvres modernes sur papier auction on 3 June offers exceptional works on paper by the greats: from Giacometti, Chagall and Signac to Bonnard, Picasso and Miró. The bustling streets of the French capital are mirrored in Louis Anquetin’s large-scale pastel Avenue de Clichy, which headlines this sale. The final auction of the sale series, Art Impressioniste et Moderne, brings together works by artistic icons of the 20th century, including a vibrant painting by Odilon Redon, a sun-filled Pointillist scene by Théo van Rysselberghe and an elegant portrait by Berthe Morisot.


Highlights

  • Theo Van Rysselberghe (1862–1926)

    À Thuin ou La Partie de Tennis
    signed with the monogram ‘VR’ (lower left)
    oil on canvas
    21 ⅛ x 26 ¼ in. Painted in 1889
    Estimate
    €2,000,000–3,000,000
    Related sale
    Art Impressionniste et Moderne, Paris, 27 March

  • Louis Carogis known as Carmontelle (Paris 1717–1806)

    Portrait of the Duke of Chartres,
    red and black chalk, watercolour and bodycolour
    Estimate
    €50,000–80,000
    Related sale
    Dessins Anciens et du XIXe siècle, Paris, 25 March

  • Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (Venice 1696–1770 Madrid)

    Head of a man
    red and white chalk, stump, on blue grey paper
    Estimate
    €70,000–100,000
    Related sale
    Dessins Anciens et du XIXe siècle, Paris, 25 March

  • Simon Vouet (Paris1590–1649)

    Portrait of a man in profile
    black and white chalk, red, pink and yellow pastel on light brown paper
    Estimate
    €100,000–150,000
    Related sale
    Dessins Anciens et du XIXe siècle, Paris, 25 March

  • Jacques Majorelle (Nancy 1886–1962 Paris)

    Torso of a young Fula lady
    grease pencil, bodycolour heightened with gold, signed, dated and located
    Estimate
    €70,000–100,000
    Related sale
    Dessins Anciens et du XIXe siècle, Paris, 25 March

  • Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo (Venice 1727–1804)

    Punchinello with children and a horse
    graphite, pen and brown ink, brown wash, signed
    Estimate
    €200,000–300,000
    Related sale
    Dessins Anciens et du XIXe siècle, Paris, 25 March

  • Jean (Hans) Arp (1886–1966)

    Torse, 1931 (CR 8a, Ex. 0/5, 1973)
    bronze with golden brown patina
    18 ¼ in.
    Estimate
    €300,000-500,000
    Related sale
    Hommage à Arp, collection Greta Stroeh, Paris, 26 March

    ©Adagp, Paris, 2020

  • Jean (Hans) Arp (1886–1966)

    Composition de nuages
    lithograph in colours, 1959, on wove paper
    signed in pencil
    10 x 8 1/2 in.
    Estimate
    €700-1,000
    Related sale
    Hommage à Arp, collection Greta Stroeh, Paris, 26 March

    ©Adagp, Paris, 2020

  • Jean (Hans) Arp (1886–1966)

    Formen im Kreis
    woodcut in colours, 1963, on wove paper
    signed in pencil, artist estate stamp on the back of the frame
    4 ¾ in.
    Estimate
    €700-1,000
    Related sale
    Hommage à Arp, collection Greta Stroeh, Paris, 26 March

    ©Adagp, Paris, 2020

  • Jean (Hans) Arp (1886–1966)

    Relief concret N
    signed and numbered 'ARP 0/5' (on the back)
    duraluminium relief
    13 ⅜ x 11 ¾ x ¾ in.
    Conceived in 1962, executed in 1962
    Estimate
    €15,000-20,000
    Related sale
    Hommage à Arp, collection Greta Stroeh, Paris, 26 March

    ©Adagp, Paris, 2020

  • Sophie Taeuber-Arp (1889–1943)

    Formes coïncidentes, lignes et plans
    stamped 'S H Taeuber-Arp' (on the reverse)
    coloured crayon on paper
    12 x 12 ⅝ in.
    Executed in 1942
    Estimate
    €15,000-20,000
    Related sale
    Hommage à Arp, collection Greta Stroeh, Paris, 26 March

  • Louis Anquetin (1861–1932)

    Avenue de Clichy
    signed and dated 'L. Anquetin 87' (lower left)
    pastel on paper
    23 ¾ x 19 ⅝ in.
    Executed in 1887
    Estimate
    €350,000-450,000
    Related sale
    Œuvres modernes sur papier, Paris, 26 March

  • Joan Miró (1893–1983)

    Portrait de la mère Ubu II
    signed, dated and inscribed 'portrait de la mère Ubu II. Miró. 2/36.' (upper centre)
    India ink on paper
    14 ¾ x 10 ⅞ in.
    Executed in February 1936
    Estimate
    €100,000–150,000
    Related sale
    Œuvres modernes sur papier, Paris, 26 March

    © Successió Miró / Adagp, Paris, 2020

  • Louis Soutter (1871–1942)

    Vers l'inconnu, il est mort
    inscribed 'il est mort' (on the reverse)
    oil on paper
    17 &farc14; x 23 in.
    Painted circa 1937-42
    Estimate
    €130,000–180,000
    Related sale
    Œuvres modernes sur papier, Paris, 26 March

  • Odilon Redon (1840–1916)

    L’araignée qui pleure, ou Le Désespoir du monstre
    signed ‘ODILON REDON’ (lower right)
    charcoal, pencil and India ink on tracing paper laid down on card
    12 x 9 in.
    Executed circa 1906
    Estimate
    €200,000–300,000
    Related sale
    Œuvres modernes sur papier, Paris, 26 March

  • Pablo Picasso (1881–1973)

    Homme au chapeau jouant de la guitare
    pencil on paper
    11 ¾ x 7 ⅞ in.
    Executed circa 1914-15
    Estimate
    €60,000–80,000
    Related sale
    Œuvres modernes sur papier, Paris, 26 March

    © Succession Picasso, 2020

  • Berthe Morisot (1841–1895)

    Paule Gobillard en robe de bal
    signed 'Berthe Morisot' (lower right)
    oil on canvas
    31 ⅞ x 25 ½ in.
    Painted in 1887
    Estimate
    €700,000–1,000,000
    Related sale
    Art Impressionniste et Moderne, Paris, 27 March

  • Raoul Dufy (1877–1953)

    Sainte-Adresse, la plage
    signed 'Raoul Dufy' (lower right)
    oil on canvas
    18 ⅛ x 21 ⅝ in.
    Painted in 1909
    Estimate
    €150,000–250,000
    Related sale
    Art Impressionniste et Moderne, Paris, 27 March

    ©Adagp, Paris, 2020

  • Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (1864–1901)

    Yvette Guilbert
    signed with the monogram (upper right)
    engraved and partially glazed painted ceramic
    20 ⅛ x 11 ⅛ x ⅞ in.
    Conceived in 1895 and executed at a later date
    Estimate
    €100,000–150,000
    Related sale
    Art Impressionniste et Moderne, Paris, 27 March

  • Chaïm Soutine (1893–1943)

    Maisons dans un paysage
    signed 'Soutine' (lower right)
    oil on canvas
    19 ⅝ x 24 in.
    Painted by 1925
    Estimate
    €300,000–500,000
    Related sale
    Art Impressionniste et Moderne, Paris, 27 March

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