Grande Natura morta con undici Oggetti in un Tondo (Vitali 110)

Herbert List (1903-1975), to whom Morandi dedicated this copy, was originally a coffee merchant from Hamburg. Albeit an amateur, he became one of the greatest German photographers of the 20th Century. He belonged to the liberal artistic circles in Germany between the wars and was a friend of the English writers Stephen Spender and Christopher Isherwood. His early and perhaps most well-known works are his images of classsical ruins and beautiful youths, but also his still lifes, which clearly reflect the influence Morandi had on his work as a photographer. On his extensive travels throughout Europe he met, and photographed, many artists, including Picasso, Braque, Miro and Magritte, and his series of artists' portraits are amongst the greatest of his age. List seems to have been particularly fascinated by Giorgio Morandi and photographed him many times, documenting his singularly private approach to work. It may have been on one of these occassions that Morandi gave him this print.

In similar circumstances, Joan Miró dedicated a print to Herbert List., which is offered in this sale as lot 260.