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Auction PR Publicity Announcements News and Information

Bloomsbury 20th Century Prints Auction December 3

Judging by the substantial prices reached in recent sales, the print market is now heading right back to where it was eighteen months ago,’ claims Alexander Hayter, Bloomsbury Auctions’ Head of Modern and Contemporary Prints. Followers of this highly successful department have come to expect a wide selection of artists’ works, and the sale on 3rd December will not disappoint them; most of the works offered are by leading artists, all of whom have proved their investment potential.

Paula RegoPrints from the ‘London School’ with its emphasis on figurative art from the mid 70s onwards, form the exciting nucleus of the sale. Bloomsbury is delighted to present the largest group of lithographs by the London based, Portuguese artist Paula Rego ever seen at auction, and none have ever been offered for sale (lots 360-376). All are from the same vendor, Rego’s printer and all are from the Jane Eyre series of 2001-2002. Often taking her inspiration from literature and fairy tales, Rego’s prints explore the darker, disturbing side of human nature. The estimates range from £800 to £8000 thus giving admirers of her work a wonderful opportunity to buy. The art of Paula Rego is very much in the public eye at the moment, as a museum dedicated to her opened in September this year outside Lisbon.

One of the keystone exponents of the London School is Lucien Freud and Bloomsbury’s sale includes six important examples of his work (lot 349-354). One of the artist’s rare and largest etchings is Painter’s Garden which carries an estimate of £30000-50000 (lot 349) while fans of Kate Moss will be interested in Before the Fourth (lot 352), depicting the pregnant model reclining on a bed (estimate £15000-20000). The following two lots are magnificent detailed portraits, Portrait Head and The Painter’s Doctor each estimated £12000-15000. Another powerful portrait by a London School artist is WH Auden by David Hockney (lot 409). This rare and important 1970 drypoint, is from the collection of Charles Montieth, former Chairman of Faber & Faber and had been bequeathed to Auden’s lifelong friend, Adrian Poole (estimate £2000-3000).

No Modern Prints sale is complete without examples from masters such as Matisse, Picasso and Chagall. Jeunesse by Picasso (lot 235) is one of the artist’s greatest lithographs, depicting the confronting heads of a beautiful young couple, a dove and an olive branch between them (estimate £20000-30000).

www.bloomsburyauctions.com

Image: Paula Rego (b.1935) – Getting Ready For The Ball