Nicolas Ghika

Lot Description Nicolas Ghika (1906-1994) The Assault oil on canvas 24 3/8 x 27 3/8 in. (61.9 x 69.5 cm.) Painted in 1946 Provenance Lord & Lady Norton, London, by whom acquired directly fromthe artist and thence by descent to the present owner. Literature T.P. Spiteris, 'Greek Taste in Picture Collecting' in TheStudio, vol. CLV, no. 779, February 1958 (illustrated p. 33). S. Spender & P.L. Fermor, Ghika, Paintings, Drawings,Sculpture, London, 1964 (illustrated pl. 3). Exhibited London, Whitechapel Art Gallery, Ghika, June - July 1968, no.8. View Lot Notes › Nicholas Pestalis-Diomidis has confirmed the authenticity ofthis painting. The Assault comes from the collection of Lady Noel E. Norton(1891-1972), a British collector and art dealer who usually went bythe nickname of 'Peter' Norton. From 1946 to 1951, her husband SirClifford Norton was the British ambassador in Athens, and thereLady Norton formed a close and lasting friendship with Ghika; theircorrespondence can be found in the Tate Britain archive. PeterNorton was by that stage a well-established and passionate artcollector. In 1936 she had opened the first modern art gallery inLondon (called The London Gallery, in Cork Street), helped byRoland Penrose. There she exhibited works by Klee, Kandinsky,Leger, Magritte, Ernst, and Moore, amongst others. During World WarTwo, her husband's diplomatic career took her away from London, soshe handed the gallery over to E.L.T. Mesens. But she continued tosupport, collect and encourage artists all her life, and during herlater years in Greece, she particularly championed Ghika's work,and they became great friends. She bought a number of his paintingsfor her collection, which have remained in her family since herdeath.

Nicolas Ghika (1906-1994) Studio and Green Chair signed and dated 'Ghika/88' (lower left) acrylic and pastel on paper 15 x 21¼ in. (38.1 x 54 cm.) Provenance Purchased at the 1988 exhibition by the present owner. Exhibited London, Royal Academy (Friend's Room), Nicholas Ghika Recent Works, May - June 1988, no. 20.

Nicolas Ghika (1906-1994) Landscape signed and dated 'Ghika 53' (lower right) oil on canvas 14 x 10in. (35.6 x 25.4cm.) It has been suggested that this work was exhibited as no.6 in theGhika exhibition held at the Leicester Galleries, London in1955 Special Notice Pre-Lot Text VARIOUS PROPERTIES Lot Notes The authenticity of this work has kindly been confirmed by DrNicholas Petsalis-Diomidis

Nicolas Ghika (1906-1994) Hillside signed and dated lower right Ghika 72, signed again, inscribed and dated on the reverse Ghika 1972/Hillside pen, brush, black ink and watercolour 19½ x 25¾in. (49.5 x 65.3cm.) Pre-Lot Text The Property of the Estate of the Late Mrs S C Meinertzhagen Provenance New Art Centre, London Post-Lot Text VARIOUS PROPERTIES

Nicolas Ghika (1906-1994) A Rocky Place signed and dated 'Ghika 71' (lower right) watercolour, gouache and brush and India ink on paper 23¼ x 28¼ in. (59 x 72 cm.) Executed in 1971 New Art Centre, London.