AN EXTENSIVE REVIEW OF THE PHOTOGRAPHIC MEDIUM THIS FALL AT CHRISTIE’S NEW YORK Three Christie’s Photographs sales planned for October will showcase the very finest in the medium, from 19th century landscape works through to contemporary explorations.
A photograph by Irving Penn of Picasso and Brassaï of Dora Maar provide other examples of 20th century visionaries both in front of and behind the camera. American documentarians Harry Callahan, Lee Friedlander, Garry Winogrand and Richard Avedon are all represented with images of their contemporaries. Winogrand on Arbus, Friedlander on Winogrand and Avedon on Frank.
A strong grouping of important female artists include Cindy Sherman, Shirin Neshat, Francesca Woodman and Ann Hamilton; conceptual artists including Sigmar Polke, Vito Acconci, and Joseph Beuys, along with present day artists Janine Antoni, Gillian Wearing and Richard Prince, who round out the collection.
Photographs, including Photographs by Carleton E. Watkins from the Collection of the Park McCullough House Association, New York
October 18, 2007 at 10am & 2pm
Christie’s is honored to present a significant portion of a rare and important group of images by Carleton Watkins, a pioneer of American photography. 20 mammoth albumen prints (estimate: $250,000-350,000) and a group of 62 stereoscopic positives (estimate: $20,000-30,000) will be offered, acquired by the Park family directly from Watkins after his trip to Yosemite in 1861.
It is extremely likely that attorney and entrepreneur Trenor Park helped make possible Watkin’s famed trip to by paying for the rental of pack animals, needed supplies and photographic materials. The journey to Yosemite was an arduous one, burdened with Watkins photographic paraphernalia, including 100 mammoth glass plate negatives. During his first Yosemite trip, Carleton Watkins produced thirty mammoth and one hundred stereoscopic negatives.
Historic Park-McCullough located in North Bennington, Vermont, is one of the finest and best-preserved Victorian houses in the United States. Designed by Henry Dudley, the thirty-five room mansion was built in 1864-65 by Trenor Park (1823-1882). The money raised at auction will help create an endowment for the House.
Elsewhere in the sale, masterpieces of the medium will be offered, including Noire et Blanche, 1926 by Man Ray (estimate: $200,000-300,000), Fotogramm, 1925 by Laszlo Moholy-Nagy (estimate: $90,000-120,000), Rodin – Le Penseur, Paris, 1902 by Edward Steichen (estimate: $150,000-200,000), A Jewish Giant at home with his parents, 1967 by Diane Arbus (estimate: $300,000-500,000), and Patti Smith, 1987 by Robert Mapplethorpe (estimate: $120,000-180,000).
Auction: Important Photographs from a Private American Collection October 17at 5pm
On Artists: Photographs from the Collection of Rex Inc. October 17 at 5.30pm
Photographs October 18 at 10am & 2pm
Viewing: Christie’s Rockefeller Galleries, New York October 13-17
About Christie’s
Christie’s is the world's leading art business with global auction sales in 2006 that totalled £2.51 billion / $4.67 billion. Worldwide sales for the first half of 2007 totalled £1.63 billion / $3.25 billion, an increase of 32% by £ and 45% by $ from the same period last year and highest half year sales ever in art market history. Christie’s is a name and place that speaks of extraordinary art, unparalleled service, and international glamour. Founded in 1766 by James Christie, Christie's conducted the greatest auctions of the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, and today remains a popular showcase for the
