Auctions June 29th

On Wednesday 29 June, starting at 4 p.m., the auction no. 102 of Art Objects and Antiques and Old and 19th Century Paintings will be held at Blindarte's Neapolitan office - in liaison with the Milan venue.

The catalogue proposes in the first part a refined selection of miniatures from the private collection of a passionate collector, including a pair of miniatures depicting Louis Philippe, Duke of Orleans and Maria Carolina of Austria (estimated value €3000/4000). A real highlight for antique enthusiasts will be the exceptional cameo on a sardonyx shell on which an ancient initiation ceremony of Cupid and Psyche is skilfully reproduced (estimate €3.000/4.000).

Worthy of note are the monumental Jacob Petit vases, both initialled under the base, which are absolutely rare for the refinement of the gold relief embroidery and the high quality of the decorated scenes with which Jacob Petit draws on the typical Meissen decoration, testifying to the probably royal commission for the two vases (estimate €10,000/15,000).

Enriching the section is a bronze statue depicting the Farnese Athena attributed to the Roman sculptor Francesco Righetti (estimate €15,000/18,000) and an important white terracotta inkwell published by Donatone depicting a "Concertino di pulcinella e scimmie" (estimate €6,000/8,000).

The furniture section concludes with a rare and beautiful pair of Louis XVI corner consoles from one of the oldest and most important aristocratic residences on the Sorrento peninsula (estimate €10,000/15,000).

In the section dedicated to Old Master paintings, of absolute uniqueness and beauty, Francesco De Mura's splendid canvas depicting The Sacrifice of Iphigenia ( estimate on request) stands out among them all. Accompanied by numerous publications and exhibitions in which it has taken part, the painting is unanimously considered by art historians and enthusiasts to be the Neapolitan painter's absolute masterpiece, in which solemnity and measured monumentality alternate with grace and skill. As the canvas has already been declared of special artistic and historical interest by the Ministry of Cultural and Environmental Heritage since 1996, it could rightfully become part of a Neapolitan museum collection.

This is followed by an oil on canvas by Filippo Napoletano (estimate €25,000/35,000), a splendid Portrait attributed to Salvator Rosa - so intense as to recall Rembrandt's portraits (estimate €30,000/40,000), a Saint Ursula by Andrea Vaccaro (estimate €20,000/30,000) and a beautiful architecture by Viviano Codazzi and Micco Spadaro with Castel Sant'Elmo in the background.

The second part dedicated to 19th century paintings includes a small collection by Giuseppe Casciaro from a prestigious collection of a family friend of the painter, followed by a Veduta di Napoli by Pitloo, a splendid landscape of Cava dei Tirreni by Giacinto Gigante (estimate €6,000/7,000) and a Marina con pescatori signed Salvatore Fergola (estimate €3,000/4,000).

On 29 June from 6 p.m. onwards, the BLINDARTE auction no. 103, Modern and Contemporary Art, will take place in both Blindarte's halls in Naples and Milan, in liaison with each other.

It will be possible to participate, in presence in one of the 2 halls, live after registration on #blindarte.com, by phone or by written bids, through registration with specific forms to download from the auction house website.

The exhibition of lots from auction 103 will take place in Naples from Monday 6 June to Friday 10 June (from 9.30 a.m. to 1.15 p.m. and from 3.00 p.m. to 6.15 p.m.), a selection of lots, in conjunction with the exhibition of lots from auction 102 of ancient and 19th-20th century paintings, and then again on Monday 13 June (same time). It will then continue from Monday 20 June to the date of the auction at the #blindarte Milan venue from 10.30 am to 7 pm (every day, including weekends).

Among the most important lots included in the auction's catalogue is Tony Cragg's impressive sculpture Forminifera, created in 1990 in sandblasted and perforated plaster. The work of 12 elements is inspired by the macro and micro structures found in nature. In the Forminifera series, holes are the method used to cross the physical boundary for sight and touch. The holes, both metaphorically and literally, offer a complex view of the sculpture, altering and expanding the spectrum of sensations and emotions aroused by the work. This important artwork is presented at auction with an estimate of €250,000/350,000.

Among the most outstanding pieces is without doubt the imposing diptych by Enzo Cucchi. The untitled 1986 diptych, one of the most important works created by the great master of the Transavantgarde, and exhibited in his great 1986 exhibition at the Guggenheim in New York, is a monumental piece created on 2 panels of dry pigment on cement and metal (2 wheels for each panel). The work of great quality is presented at auction with an estimate of €120,000/160,000.

Also from the Transavantgarde is the large painting Hortus by Mimmo Paladino, executed in 1994. The work, measuring 200x150 cm, and registered in the Paladino Archive is estimated at €90,000/120,000.

Also linked to the Transavantgarde is the work by Sandro Chia, Figura seduta con orsacchiotto ascoltando voci (The Enigma of the Face with Teddy Bear), created in 1991. The work, with very intense colours, measures 160x190 cm and is estimated at €26,000/32,000.

As one of the most desirable works on the international market, the artwork of Yayoi Kusama, one of the most famous and most sought-after living artists, whose career has accelerated dramatically in recent years, and so has the market for her pieces. The 1996 work DRESS (A), acrylic, collage and fabric on canvas, shown in the exhibition at Momacon, Fukuoka in 1996/97, is presented at auction with an estimate of €50,000/80,000.

Great attention is also paid to the beautiful gouache by Anish Kapoor, created in 2014 with the vibrant colours and sculptural references typical of the great Mumbai artist's research. The work is estimated at €50,000/70,000.

The Fallen Sky, on the other hand, is the work of the great Russian-born but New York-based artist duo Ilya and Emilia Kabakov. Created with wood, paint and metal in 2006, the piece is the model for the installation realised with monumental dimensions in the UN park in Geneva and on the beach of Nieuwpoort in Belgium. It represents a conceptual work of great importance, dense with narrative and making one reflect on the artists' vision of their country of origin. The work is estimated at €50,000/70,000.

Spectacular is the large work on paper, watercolour and blue biro, dated 1992 made by Jan Fabre, Untitled from the series Metamorphosis. The work, 235x150 cm, is presented at auction with an estimate of €65,000/75,000.

Highlights of this auction include a fine painting by André Masson from 1954-55, entitled Lavandières. The work, portraying with the typical features of the great artist, a group of washerwomen intent on carrying out their work, and coming from the Galerie Leiris in Paris, is presented at auction with an estimate of €60,000/80,000.

Fernand Léger's beautiful 1948 paper entitled Le coq jaune is estimated at € 20,000/25,000.

Published in the catalogue raisonné edited by Celant, the beautiful canvas work by Carla Accardi entitled Rossogrigioscuro of 1998, is presented at auction with an estimate of €40,000/60,000.

Salvo's beautiful painting, entitled La Valle, executed in 2003, 120x90 cm and registered at the Salvo Archive, is presented at auction with an estimate of €40,000/60,000.

Also worthy of note is the Cellotex W1, acrylic and vinavil on cellotex dated 1980 by Alberto Burri, estimated at €25,000/30,000 and the photograph by Gino De Dominicis, Untitled (L'immortale), a work realised with 4 black and white photographs in 1970, exhibited several times and published in the catalogue raisonné, presented at auction with an estimate of €20,000/25,000.

Noteworthy is also the presence at auction of Roy Lichtenstein's 6 famous graphics Still life. With estimates between €10,000 and €15,000, the 6 works make up the complete portfolio numbered 7/100 of the famous work published in 1974 by Multiples Inc and Leo Castelli.

Also worth mentioning are a group of works by Carlo Alfano, an important painting by James Brown from 1984 (estimated at €14,000/18,000), and an outstanding work by Mario Merz from the Lucio Amelio Gallery in Naples (estimated at €22,000/32,000).

Emerging artists of interest include: Davide Balliano, Peppi Bottrop, Ethan Cook, Jonathan Monk, Karin Davie, Jan De Cock, Jonathan Meese.