By Carter B.
Latin American Art covers a
very broad spectrum
of genres ranging from older religious paintings to early landscapes
and a colorful range of modern and contemporary work.
The highlight of the auction
was Lot 22, the
catalogue's cover illustration, shown above, a quite monumental
and moving painting, "Niña con Rebozo," by Diego
Rivera, which sold for $937,500, nicely over its $800,000 high
estimate. This 32 1/4 by 25 1/4 inch oil on canvas was painted
in 1938 and is a marvelous homage to Mexico's indigenous cultures
and to the pure simplicity and humbleness of the woman who assumes
a monumental presence in her beautiful blue and white shawl, or
rebozo. Beneath the shawl, the woman's white and blue sweater
strongly complements the dark shawl and Rivera has created a marvelous
composition with her clothing that both accents the painting's
verticality and the curves of her features. The white collar focuses
attention on her face at the top while her closed hands firmly
anchor the bottom and also hint at her hard life. The middle of
the painting in which her torso is hidden beneath a rolling, folded,
pleated sea of blues and whites is sensational. Niña is
the very image of decency in this fine, sensitive portrait.
"This is a constantly changing
and we have had some surprises tonight," remarked Isabella
Hutchinson, director of Sotheby's Latin American Art Department
after the first, evening session. "Solid prices were achieved
in every category and we were encouraged to see so many new collectors
bidding on our major lots. Interest inthe sale came from Europe,
North and Latin America with some bidding from U.S. museums. Works
by contemporary artists performed especially well, with prices
in many cases surpassing pre-sale estimates," she continued,
citing records that were set for Jorge Talca and José Bedia.
Lot 30, "El Balcón," by Amelia
Peláez (1896-1968), a 27 7/8 by 37 7/8 inch gouache on
paper laid down on board sold for $233,500, way over its $150,000
high estimate. The very fine and lovely work that depicts a woman
on a balcony with a bird in hand and fruit on a table was the
cover illustration of the bulletin of the Museum of Modern Art's
exhibition, Modern Cuban Painters, in April, 1942.
Lot 38, "Tierra Quemade," a
31 1/2 by 39 3/8 inch oil and sand on canvas of a man beneath
the sun and between two pyramids by Rufino Tamayo (1899-1991),
sold for $398,500, almost double its low estimate. Another Tamayo,
Lot 9, "El Juglar," a bluish 51 by 38 inch oil and sand
on canvas also did very well, selling to a South American private
collector within its estimate for $365,500.
One of the most flamboyant and
works was Lot 58, "El Ejecutor," a pyroxylin on masonite,
39 3/8 by 30 1/2 inches, 1949, by David Alfaro Siqueiros (1896-1974),
shown above. It sold for more than $130,000, considerably better
than its $100,000 high estimate. A bold swirl of thick blue, black,
red and orange, this is a fabulous painting at which both Rubens
and Hans Hofmann would have marveled. A few fingers and a pronounced
beard are recognizable in this otherwise boldly abstract and powerful
One of the lots that elicited
"Brouillard Noir," by Maria Martins (1894-1973), a 34
3/4 inch tall bronze sculpture that looked something like the
skeleton of a fish/man. It sold for $233,500, almost four times
its $60,000 low estimate.
Fernando Botero's "Santa Rosa
Según Vásquez, Lot 47, also sold within its estimate
for $299,500, as did the very striking "Lisamona," by
Wilfredo Lam (1902-1982), Lot 48, shown below, which sold for
fine painting, "Successful
People," by José Clemente Orozco (1883-1949), Lot
131, shown below, sold for $63,000. The 18 by 15 inch oil on canvas,
executed in 1931, had a high estimate of $22,000.
"Familia Vergonzante," a very
oil on canvas by Botero (b. 1932), Lot 50, was passed at $550,000,
not very close to its $650,000 low estimate. A charming 22 inch
long bronze Botero sculpture of a reclining nude woman with a
bird perched on her toes passed at $110,000 and had a $150,000
Among the other disappointments
was Lot 48,
"Tres Desnudos, Viaducto, Coche, Cabros," a 1996 oil
on canvas, 45 1/8 by 36 1/4 inches, by Armando Morales (b. 1927)
hat was passed at $140,000, far below its $200,000 low estimate.
The very beautiful painting combined the stark lighting of De
Chirico with the nudes of Puvis de Chavannes in Morales's rich,
very painterly style. Another was Lot 49, "Eucalyptus Branch,
a large oil of canvas by Claudio Bravo (b. 1936), a very accomplished
photorealist. It was passed at $70,000, far below its $90,000
A large painting by the
Toledo (b. 1940), Lot 55, that resembled a roadmap in hieroglyphics,
had a low estimate of $175,000 and was passed at $95,000.
"Soul Without Terror," Lot 56,
rather ominous, dark, large painting by Matta (b. 1911) that was
consigned The Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago, sold for
$90,000, far below its low estimate of $125,000, but then many
other Mattas did not sell this season, inexplicably.
by Ángel Botello, (1913-1986), shown above, sold for $28,750,
well above its $15,000 high estimate. The 14 1/2 by 18 1/2 inch
oil on masonite was painted in 1965. A larger work by the same
artist, "Polución," Lot 178, shown below, sold
within its estimates for $6,325. The 42 by 48 inch oil on panel
was painted in 1971.
the most stunning works
in the auction, Lot 64, by Carlos Mérida (1891-1984), an
abstact petroplastic on prepared panel, 30 3/4 by 22 3/4 inches,
1977, sold within its estimate for a hammer price of $35,000.
auction room was jammed
although acoustically it was hard to hear the auctioneer at the
back of the especially towards the end of the sale as many collectors
and dealers engaged in conversations.The catalogue included a
large section on artists' biographies at its back, a most welcome