1960
Except otherwise stated, all results include the premium.
See also : French sculpture Klein Rothko Rothko 1957-70 Bacon < 1963 Old Flanders and Belgium Magritte Jewels Pink diamond
See also : French sculpture Klein Rothko Rothko 1957-70 Bacon < 1963 Old Flanders and Belgium Magritte Jewels Pink diamond
1960 ROTHKO
1
2019 SOLD for $ 50M by Sotheby's
In 1958 Mark Rothko accepted the contract with the Seagram company for a series of murals to decorate the new Four Seasons restaurant. The dark colors chosen by the artist are paradoxically expressing some disgust of the luxury atmosphere for which he performs this work.
In the following year, while the paintings were nearly completed, Rothko abruptly breaks the contract and returns to Seagram the money that had been paid in advance. He did not give a clear explanation of this decision. The artist was indeed known as temperamental, but we may especially question why he had accepted this contract that went against his social ideas.
The sequence that led to this anger, however, has a plausible hypothesis. Between acceptance and rejection of the contract, Rothko made a tour of Europe. While admiring Michelangelo in Florence, he understands the major role of the place where an artwork is exhibited. He has a too great opinion of his own art to become a mere restaurant decorator.
On May 16, 2019, Sotheby's sold for $ 50M from a lower estimate of $ 35M a 175 x 127 cm oil on canvas painted in 1960, lot 12.
This composition is a hybrid between the dialogue of dark colors, here a burgundy rectangle and a maroon rectangle, and a creamy white rectangle at the bottom of the image. Such an extreme opposition is rare in Rothko's art. It can be compared to a Dark over Light painted in 1954, sold for $ 30.7M by Christie's on May 17, 2018, lot 34 B, for which the rational explanation was the simulation of a window of light to snap the viewer up to this work.
In 1962 John and Dominique de Menil discover the expressive power of the dark hues of Rothko's Seagram style. From 1965 they sponsor a place of meditation that is much better suited to the artist than a luxury restaurant and which will become the Rothko Chapel.
Please watch the two videos shared by Sotheby's, in the categories First Look and Expert Voices.
In the following year, while the paintings were nearly completed, Rothko abruptly breaks the contract and returns to Seagram the money that had been paid in advance. He did not give a clear explanation of this decision. The artist was indeed known as temperamental, but we may especially question why he had accepted this contract that went against his social ideas.
The sequence that led to this anger, however, has a plausible hypothesis. Between acceptance and rejection of the contract, Rothko made a tour of Europe. While admiring Michelangelo in Florence, he understands the major role of the place where an artwork is exhibited. He has a too great opinion of his own art to become a mere restaurant decorator.
On May 16, 2019, Sotheby's sold for $ 50M from a lower estimate of $ 35M a 175 x 127 cm oil on canvas painted in 1960, lot 12.
This composition is a hybrid between the dialogue of dark colors, here a burgundy rectangle and a maroon rectangle, and a creamy white rectangle at the bottom of the image. Such an extreme opposition is rare in Rothko's art. It can be compared to a Dark over Light painted in 1954, sold for $ 30.7M by Christie's on May 17, 2018, lot 34 B, for which the rational explanation was the simulation of a window of light to snap the viewer up to this work.
In 1962 John and Dominique de Menil discover the expressive power of the dark hues of Rothko's Seagram style. From 1965 they sponsor a place of meditation that is much better suited to the artist than a luxury restaurant and which will become the Rothko Chapel.
Please watch the two videos shared by Sotheby's, in the categories First Look and Expert Voices.
2
2022 SOLD for $ 48M by Sotheby's
In 1960 the art of Mark Rothko is rare, with only 19 paintings on canvas made. After the Seagram misadventure, he is indeed challenging himself for a deeper quest for the sublime.
An opus is directly inspired by the dark colors of twilight. The artist recognized the highly emotional moment of mystery, threat and frustration that occur all at once in a nightfall. The scarcity of his trials in that theme assesses that it was a technical challenge and an enthusiastic achievement. It also announces the systematic use of the most subtle dark tones in the meditative period of the Rothko chapel.
That Untitled, a nearly square oil on canvas 180 x 190 cm, was sold for $ 48M from a lower estimate of $ 35M for sale by Sotheby's on May 17, 2022, lot 8. This experimental work had never before been exhibited publicly. It was treasured in the Macklowe collection since 1983.
The signature rectangles in black and in dark maroon look visually mingled over a deep cobalt blue background.
Other examples reintroduce the burning orange red of the sunset.
An opus is directly inspired by the dark colors of twilight. The artist recognized the highly emotional moment of mystery, threat and frustration that occur all at once in a nightfall. The scarcity of his trials in that theme assesses that it was a technical challenge and an enthusiastic achievement. It also announces the systematic use of the most subtle dark tones in the meditative period of the Rothko chapel.
That Untitled, a nearly square oil on canvas 180 x 190 cm, was sold for $ 48M from a lower estimate of $ 35M for sale by Sotheby's on May 17, 2022, lot 8. This experimental work had never before been exhibited publicly. It was treasured in the Macklowe collection since 1983.
The signature rectangles in black and in dark maroon look visually mingled over a deep cobalt blue background.
Other examples reintroduce the burning orange red of the sunset.
1960 Seated Figure by Bacon
2014 SOLD for $ 45M by Christie's
The arrival of the papal figures in the art of Francis Bacon goes back to his early period of which almost nothing remains since he destroyed his works. Starting just after the Second World War, this theme is political : a pope is also a man, and the luxury inherent in his position cannot hide a psychological distress.
The model is famous : the portrait of Innocent X by Velazquez. As a precaution, Bacon would not see the original artwork for not altering his creative impetus. For over fifteen years, he executed about fifty paintings on this theme. The earliest were screaming their incompetence at offering a better world.
Around 1960, Bacon's popes become silent, as tragic as the screaming characters. The colors are brushed in powerful gestures that make the face unreadable and unidentifiable. He will proceed in the same way for some portraits of his friends in Soho. The throne becomes neutral but the atmosphere in red and crimson maintains the original message of political absurdity.
A Seated figure, oil on canvas 153 x 119 cm painted in 1960, was sold for $ 45M by Christie's on November 12, 2014, lot 45. This opus is directly inspired from Velazquez by the petrified position of the character and by its dominant red.
The model is famous : the portrait of Innocent X by Velazquez. As a precaution, Bacon would not see the original artwork for not altering his creative impetus. For over fifteen years, he executed about fifty paintings on this theme. The earliest were screaming their incompetence at offering a better world.
Around 1960, Bacon's popes become silent, as tragic as the screaming characters. The colors are brushed in powerful gestures that make the face unreadable and unidentifiable. He will proceed in the same way for some portraits of his friends in Soho. The throne becomes neutral but the atmosphere in red and crimson maintains the original message of political absurdity.
A Seated figure, oil on canvas 153 x 119 cm painted in 1960, was sold for $ 45M by Christie's on November 12, 2014, lot 45. This opus is directly inspired from Velazquez by the petrified position of the character and by its dominant red.
(previous sale 1960) The Princie Diamond
2013 SOLD for $ 39.3M by Christie's
On April 16, 2013 Christie's sold as lot 295 for $ 39.3M a cushion-cut pink diamond weighing 34.65 carats, which is 1.135 million US $ per carat. It is identified as historic, which mostly means that some ancient information is available.
This diamond has not been seen publicly since 1960. It was then bought £ 46K at auction by Van Cleef & Arpels, who named it the Princie Diamond by friendship with the young prince of Baroda.
Its true color revealed by the 2013 sale, fancy intense pink, is a pleasant surprise, because this is one of the best and rarest colors. The 24.78 carats Graff Pink, sold CHF 45.4M (1.85 million US $ per carat) by Sotheby's in 2010 has the same color.
The provenance of the Princie was not revealed in 1960. The press release from Christie's tells that the seller was the Nizam of Hyderabad himself, which supports the hypothesis that this diamond had been extracted from Golconda. Unfortunately, its VS2 clarity is not excellent. The Graff Pink, VVS2, is better by two grades.
This diamond has not been seen publicly since 1960. It was then bought £ 46K at auction by Van Cleef & Arpels, who named it the Princie Diamond by friendship with the young prince of Baroda.
Its true color revealed by the 2013 sale, fancy intense pink, is a pleasant surprise, because this is one of the best and rarest colors. The 24.78 carats Graff Pink, sold CHF 45.4M (1.85 million US $ per carat) by Sotheby's in 2010 has the same color.
The provenance of the Princie was not revealed in 1960. The press release from Christie's tells that the seller was the Nizam of Hyderabad himself, which supports the hypothesis that this diamond had been extracted from Golconda. Unfortunately, its VS2 clarity is not excellent. The Graff Pink, VVS2, is better by two grades.
1960 KLEIN
1
Le Rose du Bleu (RE 22)
2012 SOLD for £ 23.5M by Christie's
Yves Klein was spreading his color on canvas. Suddenly, like Kandinsky discovering by chance (according to legend) that he had just invented abstract art, Klein is rising to the rank of a basic artistic figure a sponge soaked with paint which he just used.
Thus began around 1959 the series of RE (Reliefs Eponges) : transforming his panels into sculpture, the artist stages sponges and pebbles on a flat surface in a composition that remains beautifully monochrome.
In that RE series, Klein proposes a cosmic meaning. A sponge is shaped like an asteroid which was not altered by an atmosphere.
His monochromes are the elements of a trinity. His colors were the IKB, the madder pink and the gold. More appealing than the three classical primary colors, these colors express separately the properties of the universe before being mixed by the action of water and fire.
He then creates a new world full of these strange figures pushing him in the following of the mineral landscapes of Tanguy. But Tanguy died in 1955, and the space conquest had meanwhile generated its imaginary craters and lifeless rocks.
In 1961 in Krefeld, an exhibition demonstrates the clash of colors of Klein's trinity by attributing a different room to each color. Two artworks made in 1960 are particularly highlighted. Both were made in dry synthetic resin, natural sponges and pebbles on board.
The blue room is dominated by Archisponge, 200 x 165 cm, which was sold by Sotheby's in 2008.
On June 27, 2012, Christie's sold for £ 23.5M the masterpiece of the pink room, 199 x 153 x 16 cm, lot 9. Its mysterious title, Le Rose du Bleu, does not doubt the purity of the madder pigment but reveals that the artist attempts a unified vision of his Pink with the immaterial symbol of his basic Blue.
Please watch the video prepared by Christie's.
Thus began around 1959 the series of RE (Reliefs Eponges) : transforming his panels into sculpture, the artist stages sponges and pebbles on a flat surface in a composition that remains beautifully monochrome.
In that RE series, Klein proposes a cosmic meaning. A sponge is shaped like an asteroid which was not altered by an atmosphere.
His monochromes are the elements of a trinity. His colors were the IKB, the madder pink and the gold. More appealing than the three classical primary colors, these colors express separately the properties of the universe before being mixed by the action of water and fire.
He then creates a new world full of these strange figures pushing him in the following of the mineral landscapes of Tanguy. But Tanguy died in 1955, and the space conquest had meanwhile generated its imaginary craters and lifeless rocks.
In 1961 in Krefeld, an exhibition demonstrates the clash of colors of Klein's trinity by attributing a different room to each color. Two artworks made in 1960 are particularly highlighted. Both were made in dry synthetic resin, natural sponges and pebbles on board.
The blue room is dominated by Archisponge, 200 x 165 cm, which was sold by Sotheby's in 2008.
On June 27, 2012, Christie's sold for £ 23.5M the masterpiece of the pink room, 199 x 153 x 16 cm, lot 9. Its mysterious title, Le Rose du Bleu, does not doubt the purity of the madder pigment but reveals that the artist attempts a unified vision of his Pink with the immaterial symbol of his basic Blue.
Please watch the video prepared by Christie's.
2
Archisponge (RE 11)
2008 SOLD for $ 21.4M by Sotheby's
Archisponge was sold for $ 21.4M on November 11, 2008 by Sotheby's, lot 12.
This artwork on panel 200 x 165 cm executed in 1960 in IKB, sponges and pebbles had been the masterpiece of the blue room in the 1961 Krefeld exhibition. That central room was flanked by the pink and gold rooms. Le Rose du bleu, of same size and technique as the Archisponge, was the flagship the pink room.
The artist had of course be the designer of that arrangement. Nevertheless his proposal for a performance of his own Symphonie Monotone Silence during the opening day was not retained.
This artwork on panel 200 x 165 cm executed in 1960 in IKB, sponges and pebbles had been the masterpiece of the blue room in the 1961 Krefeld exhibition. That central room was flanked by the pink and gold rooms. Le Rose du bleu, of same size and technique as the Archisponge, was the flagship the pink room.
The artist had of course be the designer of that arrangement. Nevertheless his proposal for a performance of his own Symphonie Monotone Silence during the opening day was not retained.
1960-1966 Flag by Johns
2010 SOLD for $ 28.6M by Christie's
Jasper Johns' Flags had been the first icons of Pop Art that terminated the dominance of the Abstract Expressionism of Pollock, Rothko and de Kooning and opened the gates to the consumerist images of Warhol and Lichtenstein."
Leo Castelli, who was the dealer for Johns, had kept a Flag of 1958. His son just sold it to Steven Cohen in a private sale for a price that could be about $ 110 million.
A Flag painted between 1960 and 1966 was sold by Christie's for $ 28.6M on May 11, 2010. Measuring 43 x 66 cm, it is twice smaller than the Castelli-Cohen specimen.
The technique of encaustic and newspaper on canvas creates a unique texture to these works, such as to fascinate the observer as much as a Rothko can do.
Leo Castelli, who was the dealer for Johns, had kept a Flag of 1958. His son just sold it to Steven Cohen in a private sale for a price that could be about $ 110 million.
A Flag painted between 1960 and 1966 was sold by Christie's for $ 28.6M on May 11, 2010. Measuring 43 x 66 cm, it is twice smaller than the Castelli-Cohen specimen.
The technique of encaustic and newspaper on canvas creates a unique texture to these works, such as to fascinate the observer as much as a Rothko can do.
1960 KLINE
1
Steeplechase
2015 SOLD for $ 21.4M by Christie's
Modern life creates new shapes that excite the formal research of the photographers. Franz Kline is close to them but he is a draftsman and a painter. He takes many sketches of the industrial structures of New York City and of his native Pennsylvania : beams of bridges, pylons, derricks.
At first this leads to nothing. Elaine de Kooning narrated the click. In 1948 Willem projects on a wall the image of a chair made by Franz. With the poor episcope of that time the geometry is jostled and the lines are bogged down. Franz is thrilled by this abstract projection of his ordinary figurative drawing.
Franz is neither a theoretician nor a surrealist. The lines of his projection compose a two-dimensional space to which an apparent impulse brings a three-dimensional illusion. Franz's painstaking work should not have been equated with the spontaneity of the Action painting of which he is often considered a leader. The rhythm of jazz is a fantasy that sometimes fits into his own style. On the other hand the jagged edges of his stripes bring him closer to Still and Rothko.
Steeplechase, oil on canvas 204 x 165 cm painted in 1960, was sold for $ 21.4M by Christie's on May 13, 2015, lot 45 B. Indeed a real steeplechase invoves a pattern of raised beams that was quite suitable for inspiring the artist. Some of the broad oblique black lines generated a light shadow.
At first this leads to nothing. Elaine de Kooning narrated the click. In 1948 Willem projects on a wall the image of a chair made by Franz. With the poor episcope of that time the geometry is jostled and the lines are bogged down. Franz is thrilled by this abstract projection of his ordinary figurative drawing.
Franz is neither a theoretician nor a surrealist. The lines of his projection compose a two-dimensional space to which an apparent impulse brings a three-dimensional illusion. Franz's painstaking work should not have been equated with the spontaneity of the Action painting of which he is often considered a leader. The rhythm of jazz is a fantasy that sometimes fits into his own style. On the other hand the jagged edges of his stripes bring him closer to Still and Rothko.
Steeplechase, oil on canvas 204 x 165 cm painted in 1960, was sold for $ 21.4M by Christie's on May 13, 2015, lot 45 B. Indeed a real steeplechase invoves a pattern of raised beams that was quite suitable for inspiring the artist. Some of the broad oblique black lines generated a light shadow.
2
Light Mechanic
2017 SOLD for $ 20M by Christie's
On November 15, 2017, Christie's sold as lot 21 B for $ 20M Light Mechanic, oil on canvas 234 x 172 cm painted by Kline in 1960.
The worn beams in deep black of his abstract mechanics are underlined in a slightly larger scale by a subtle light gray projection that could have been generated by the outdated episcope.
In the opposite of the Steeplechase from the same year, the light projection is here clearly reconstructing the black pattern in its full form.
The worn beams in deep black of his abstract mechanics are underlined in a slightly larger scale by a subtle light gray projection that could have been generated by the outdated episcope.
In the opposite of the Steeplechase from the same year, the light projection is here clearly reconstructing the black pattern in its full form.
1960 La Corde Sensible by Magritte
2017 SOLD for £ 14.4M by Christie's
In his deeply original way René Magritte is the less hermetic of the surrealists. His art is nothing more than lines and colors. His exegetes are far more complicated than himself. His themes disconcert by the incongruous mingling of the opposites : day and night, flesh and rock, animal and vegetable, or an object that floats freely in the sky.
In 1960, Magritte is looking for new themes involving the four primordial substances : water, air, earth, fire. The cloud, which is altogether immaterial and opaque, perpetually malleable, is a major figure of his Olympus.
On February 28, 2017, Christie's sold for £ 14.4M La Corde sensible, oil on canvas 114 x 146 cm which is a large size for this artist, lot 110. As usual the title of a work by Magritte is always a result of chance without a meaningful connection with the image.
The well-centered cloud is at its normal position in the sky above a landscape. It appears as laying and slightly entering into a monumental crystal coupe.
The mystery is multiple : Is the glass empty or full ? Is the cloud the cream of a cocktail ? What Gulliver will approach his lips onto this impossible vapor ? What is the true distance to the glass ? What is the reality of the landscape? What is the reality of our own world ? By its absence of animal or human being, La Corde sensible provides no mark.
In 1960, Magritte is looking for new themes involving the four primordial substances : water, air, earth, fire. The cloud, which is altogether immaterial and opaque, perpetually malleable, is a major figure of his Olympus.
On February 28, 2017, Christie's sold for £ 14.4M La Corde sensible, oil on canvas 114 x 146 cm which is a large size for this artist, lot 110. As usual the title of a work by Magritte is always a result of chance without a meaningful connection with the image.
The well-centered cloud is at its normal position in the sky above a landscape. It appears as laying and slightly entering into a monumental crystal coupe.
The mystery is multiple : Is the glass empty or full ? Is the cloud the cream of a cocktail ? What Gulliver will approach his lips onto this impossible vapor ? What is the true distance to the glass ? What is the reality of the landscape? What is the reality of our own world ? By its absence of animal or human being, La Corde sensible provides no mark.
