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Even for Finarte a year rich in auctions is drawing to a close. On Tuesday 22nd December the auction house will be holding its thirty-fifth auction of 2009, the last one, with 431 lots of modern and contemporary art. This event represents the last chance of this year for collectors to buy works by high-profile artists, even at accessible prices.
Highlights include drawings and works on paper, pieces realised by very important and highly quoted artists, always appreciated by the public and art lovers, such as Picasso, Modigliani, Goya, Carrà and Morandi. First of all Cariatide by Amedeo Modigliani, a grease pencil on paper realised between 1910 and 1911, proposed with an estimate of 80,000-120,000 euros. This work confirms Modì’s interest in sculpture during those years, in particular for pieces of African art: the use of neat, geometrical lines and stylized outlines confirm the artist’s respect and preference for the primordial shapes of ethnic art. Modigliani had the chance to examine closely caryatids and examples of African art, visiting in Paris the Trocadéro museum with his friend and patron Paul Alexandre, to whom this elegant drawing originally belonged.
Second for estimate but not for importance is a Picador by Pablo Picasso (estimate 50,000-60,000 euros): a China ink on paper realised with watercolours dated from 1960. Here the artist dealt with one of the themes that were dearest to him, the theme of the bullfight, often interpreted at a metaphor of life. In this work liquid signs take shape on paper, becoming dense symbolic figures and well-defined spaces: the bullfighter dressed in white, realised only with a dark outline, is highlighted to represent the symbol of the hero, who fights the evil – the bull – to save his people, embodied here by two women wearing a mantilla and traditional costume. Pablo Picasso is “taking part” in the event also with a series of small works entitled Histoire Naturelle, also of graphical character, with a relatively low estimate – considering the artist’s importance:8,000-12,000 euros.
Admirable also a drawing by Carlo Carrà, presented with an estimate of 30,000-40,000 euros, La donna al balcone (Nudo di donna). It is a preparatory study aimed at the realisation, in 1912, of a painting entitled Simultaneità- la donna al balcone, highest expression of the synthesis between the language of futurist faith and cubist research, learnt during his stay in Paris in 1911.
Wide space is also given to Goya’s graphical works, exceptionally hosted in an auction of modern and contemporary art – although chronologically he would be excluded from this category – for the topical interest and constant appreciation of his subjects and the satirical vein which characterises them. Etchings and aquatints, grouped into 8 lots, start from contained figures, under 1,000 euros, and reach a top estimate, for Los Caprichos, of 30,000-40,000 euros.
Even for Giorgio Morandi and Alberto Giacometti’s fans there will be good chances to buy: 5 compositions on paper by Morandi, naturally all Still Lives, are proposed with estimates oscillating between 6-7,000 euros and 28-35,000 euros, while a Female Portrait by Giacometti defends itself well with a value of 15,000-20,000 euros.
Painting and sculpture also have relevant representatives in this auction: an enamel on paper by Mario Schifano is at auction with an estimate of 38,000-45,000 euros, Spiaggia (l’albero) by Carlo Carrà for 30,000-40,000 euros, while the bronze Minneapolis by Pietro Consagra has an estimate of 18,000-20,000 euros.
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