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Galerie von Vertes
pierre soulages
Pierre Soulages (Rodez, 1919-2022) Peinture 92 x 130 cm, 4 mai 2004 Acrylic on canvas 92 x 130 cm Verso signed and titled ‘SOULAGES 92 x 130 cm 4 Mai 2004’ On the stretcher, signed and inscribed 'soulages' Provenance: collection Essl, Klosterneuburg, Austria (acquired directly from the artist); Christie's, Paris, 23 October 2023, lot 358; private collection, Switzerland Literature: Pierre Encrevé, Soulages: l'œuvre complet, Peintures, vol. IV: 1997-2013, Paris, 2015, n° 1272, p. 148 (ill.)
Galerie Flak
Yipwon hook figure Korewori river, Papua New Guinea, 19th century or earlier (C-14 test) Carved wood H 200 cm Provenance: Merrin Gallery, New York; Californian artist Tony Berlant collection; acquired from the above in the 1980s; Michael Hamson collection, USA; Dr. Jean-Philippe Beaulieu collection, France; acquired from the previous in 2022
Finch & Co
Turned standing cup and cover on knopped foot Germany, late Renaissance, first half 17th century Rhinoceros horn and ivory, old smooth patina, age cracks to foot H 33 cm - Ø 11 cm Belgium CITES: 2025/BE01678/CE Provenance: Finch and Co, item n° 77, catalogue n° 20, summer 2013; private collection Comparative literature: a cup and cover of similar shape engraved with the inscription ‘the exalted Roman Emperor Rudolf II’s goblet which protects against poison – the unconquerable Emperor’s hand shaped this ingenious goblet’ D 406.766 / 339 Royal Danish Kunstkammer, Copenhagen, National Museum A fine and large late Renaissance turned standing cup and cover on knopped foot of impressive size The Milanese master instructor of turning Giovanni Ambrogio Maggiore visited Bavaria on various occasions between 1574 and 1593 to teach the Duke Wilhelm this newly invented form of art, creating marvellous objects from natural substances. Maggiore also trained the artist Georg Wecker who went on to become Dresden’s ‘court turner for life’ to the elector Augustus of Saxony in 1578. Regarded at the time as a form of advanced mechanical technology, the art of turning in ivory, ebony and rhinoceros horn became a princely pastime for ‘Drechselnder souverän’. Rhinoceros horn objects were regarded as items of great rarity and prestige in Renaissance Europe, but they had been seen as objects of great value with inherent magical properties for well over one thousand years before this time in China, and by the early 17th century Chinese cups and vessels of carved rhino horn were being exported to Europe to meet the demand for exotic curiosities for the cabinets of wealthy collectors.
Claes Gallery
Dan 'deangle' Mask Ivory Coast, Dan people Presumed early 20th century Wood and pigment H 25 cm Provenance: Hubert Goldet (1945–2000), Paris, until 1972; Lucien Van de Velde (1933-), Antwerp, from 1972 to 1975; René (1901-1998) & Odette (1925–2012) Delenne, Brussels Literature: Arts d’Afrique Noire 34, 1988, p. 49; Utotombo, Kunst uit Zwart-Afrika in Belgisch privé-bezit, de Heusch, Brussels, 1988, p. 148, fig. 59; A ‘Harley Mask’ at the Cleveland Museum of Art: More on Masks among the Mano and Dan Peoples, Petridis, African Arts, Vol. 45, n° 1, 2012, p. 31, fig. 8; Trésors de Côte d’Ivoire, Neyt, Fonds Mercator, Brussels, 2014, p. 44-45, fig. 18 (indication: H. 26 cm); The Language of Beauty in African Art, Petridis, The Art Institute of Chicago, 2022, p. 207, fig. 164 Exhibitions: Utotombo. Kunst uit Zwart-Afrika in Belgisch privé-bezit, Palais des Beaux Arts, Brussels, 25 March-5 June 1988; The Language of Beauty in African Art, The Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, 20 January 2022-27 March 2023 Originating from the northwest of Côte d’Ivoire, near the borders of Liberia and Guinea, the Dan are an agricultural people who primarily cultivate rice and cassava. Their way of life, complemented by hunting, fishing, and gathering, is rooted in a patrilineal society without a central authority, structured around clans led by chiefs chosen for their prestige, bravery, or agricultural success. Relations between clans, often marked by rivalries, gave rise to a rigorous social organization: young warriors ensured the group’s defense, while chiefs reinforced their influence through feasts and gifts. Local power rested on a balance between the chief, the council of elders, and the male associations, which upheld discipline, guided the initiation of young men, and preserved community cohesion. The Dan distinguish between two worlds: that of the village - a humanized and social space - and that of the forest, the realm of spirits and natural forces. It is within this duality that their art takes root, renowned for its independence and for the diversity of its styles from one village to another. In their pursuit of formal perfection, Dan artists express through their works an ideal of beauty that is both spiritual and harmonious. A symbol of this aesthetic quest, the Dan 'deangle' mask is characterized by its regular oval shape, polished surface, narrow eyes, short nose, and full, slightly parted lips. The raised scarifications emphasize the geometry and graphic strength of the composition. Of an elegance imbued with softness and femininity, it embodies the Dan ideal of beauty. Used within the Leopard secret society (go), associated with the pacifying spirit zlan, this mask served as an intermediary between young initiates and the village community. First exhibited and published for the general public in 1988, this exceptional work was most recently presented (in 2022) at the Chicago Museum. The mask’s deep gaze, highlighted by a fine band across the eyes, captures the viewer’s attention. Its patina, with warm brown reflections, and its concave form lend it a presence that is both powerful and serene.
CKS Gallery
Salvador Dalí (Spain, Figueras 1904-1989) Nude ascending the staircase, 1973 Brown patina bronze sculpture H 212 × W 139 × D 117 cm - Height with the base: 297 cm Signed & numbered 'Dalí 2/8', Foundry mark 'Fratelli Bonvicini, Italie' on the shell Certificate of authenticity by M. Robert Descharnes and listed in the Descharnes Archives under the n° 0-264 Provenance: private collection
Harold t’Kint de Roodenbeke
Englebert Van Anderlecht (Brussels, 1918-1961) Rome 1, 1960 Oil on canvas 150 x 122 cm Signed, dated and titled on the reverse Inventory number 664 on the reverse Provenance: private collection, Brussels Literature: Serge Goyens de Heusch, Englebert Van Anderlecht, Mercator, 1998, ill. p. 207; Englebert Van Anderlecht, exhibition catalogue, MRBAB, Brussels, 1990, ill. n° 79 Exhibitions: Galerij M.A.S. Astene, march-april 1969; Museum van Deinze, Englebert Van Anderlecht, March-May 1990; MRBAB, Englebert Van Anderlecht, Brussels, 1990 In the shadow of war and its aftermath, Englebert Van Anderlecht began his career as an artist in the early 1940s, right in the midst of the global conflict. After this tragedy, the “young Belgian painting” movement brought together a group of artists in a state of euphoria. Their style was colorful and optimistic - a form of rebirth, a way to forget and move toward new horizons. By the late 1940s, there was a desire to recreate new rules - or rather, to affirm that there were no longer any rules. Creativity alone mattered and had to prevail over any form of academicism. Thus, Englebert Van Anderlecht turned toward abstraction at the end of the 1940s and definitively embraced it by the mid-1950s. His palette grew stronger, his tones deeper, and he adhered to a form of abstract expressionism. This style of painting reflected a worldwide desire for rupture and emancipation. In the United States, the tone was set by Jackson Pollock and Franz Kline, from gestural to abstract expressionism. In France, a new generation emerged with Nicolas de Staël, Pierre Soulages, Simon Hantaï, and Judith Reigl. Belgium was no exception, with Antoine Mortier and Englebert Van Anderlecht, the latter being the most committed to the path of free or abstract expressionism. “I believe it is essential that there be men who do not accept established rules, who do not believe that truth is forever what a few moral leaders have decided it to be, who see that life is not merely the sum of all discoveries made so far. In this, I see a promise of freedom. We believe that everything remains to be done, that our earth is young, that we are not old men sunk into routine, and that the marvelous still awaits us tomorrow.” - Text by Englebert Van Anderlecht, 1960 Within this context, the large and striking canvas, Rome I, belongs to the period of maturity and recognition of this artist, who died prematurely in 1961 at the age of 43. The brush or paintbrush seems to whirl across the canvas like a ballet. The tones are deep, intense, applied with palpable strength and energy, while the final result bursts forth across the space. The work then takes on its full dimension, filling the surface with unmatched power - one of the finest works by this essential figure of Belgian painting.
Vagabond Antiques
Monumental carved marble Sundial Portugal, Oporto region, mid-18th century H 357 x W 130 x D 62 cm Portugal has a rich tradition of country houses and manors indigenously known as solares or quintas. Some were modelled on the great 18th century gardens of Le Notre and other landscape architects in France. Under King João, himself a great patron of the arts, began the great 18th century period of Portuguese baroque. The previous austere architectural style, albeit heavily influenced by Renaissance Italy, was replaced with exuberance. With great profits from its colonies and especially gold and precious stones from Minas Gerais and the Sertão of São Paulo in Brazil, it was the golden era of Portuguese architecture and ornament. From it there emerged a new artistic language. Named the Joanine, in honour of the King, it was an architectural style that transformed quintas not only in Portugal but also in the nation’s Atlantic provinces and overseas colonies. This spectacular sundial, monumental in scale, incorporates many architectural elements synonymous with the baroque architecture of the mid-18th century. It was a highly creative Italian who created a form of this style of architecture perfectly suited to Northern Portugal. Born in 1691 and trained in Sienna, Nicolau Nasoni arrived in Oporto in 1725. Having established his reputation by modernising the city’s cathedral, he was commissioned by Jeronimo de Tavora e Noronha to build the Church of Clerigos, one of Oporto’s great 18th century churches. Commissions for other churches and quintas followed, the most famous of which being the grand solar de Mateus, known all over the world for the rose wine that bears its name. The architectural composition of this sundial probably owes more to the façade of the Cas dos Porto Carreiro. Similar works was commissioned by Antonio de Vasconcelos Carvalho e Menezes, a wealthy Portuguese noble who made part of his wealth in Brazil, it was constructed by a Spanish architect but heavily influenced by Nasoni’s work. The volute scrolls and the foliate elements as well as the stylised lambrequins all echo Nasoni’s designs for the gilt woodwork of Oporto churches.
Galerie de la Béraudière
jean fautrier
Jean Fautrier (Paris 1898-1964 Châtenay-Malabry) Les feuilles vertes, 1934 Oil on canvas 73 x 60 cm Signed lower left 'Fautrier' Provenance: Jean Paulhan collection, France; Dominique Aury collection, France; private collection, France (by descent); Tajan, Paris, November 23rd, 2022, lot 44; private collection, Belgium Literature: Marie-José Lefort, Catalogue Raisonné de l'oeuvre peint de Jean Fautrier, Norma éditions, 2023, p. 293, n° 478 (ill.); Palma Bucarelli, Jean Fautrier, Pittura e materia, édition Il Saggiatore, Milan, 1960, ill. n° 107 p. 306 Exhibitions: 1974, Paris, Galeries nationales du Grand Palais, Jean Paulhan à travers ses peintres, cat. n° 563, p. 218
Galerie Nathalie Obadia, Paris/Brussels
joris van de moortel
Joris Van de Moortel (Ghent, 1983) Music enjoys direct access to the soul, has an immediate echo of response since we have music within ourselves, 2025 Oil on linen and artist’s steel frame (3 panels) 200 x 220 cm Provenance: the artist's studio, Belgium Exhibition: Joris Van de Moortel, Le poids du ciel illumine la terre, Galerie Nathalie Obadia, Paris, France, 2025
De Jonckheere
pieter brueghel the younger
Pieter Brueghel the Younger (Brussels 1564-1638 Antwerp) The Payment of the Tithe or the Village Lawyer, 1622 Oil on panel 78.9 x 123.2 cm Signed and dated: P. BREVGHEL, 1622 Provenance: private collection, Belgium; Galerie Legenhoek, Paris, 1991; private collection, France Literature: Ertz, Klaus, Pieter Brueghel der Jüngere: Die Gemälde mit kritischem Oeuvrekatalog, Lingen, Luca Verlag, Vol. I, 2000, p. 513, cat. E 507, repr.; Curie, Christina, Allart, Dominique, The Brue[H]el Phenomenon, Brussels, Royal Institute for Cultural Heritage, vol. III, p. 1030-1031 This Payment of the Tithe, or The Village Lawyer, is marked by Pieter Brueghel the Younger’s verve, meticulous execution, and vibrant colours. The satirical subject mocks the profession of the lawyer responsible for collecting the heavy tax that the poorest peasants struggled to pay. The grotesque faces of the petitioners, as well as the lawyer’s prognathous jaw - associating him with the Spanish authorities then in power - fascinate through their caricatural force. This original composition by Pieter Brueghel the Younger stimulated the market of the time, generating strong demand. The success of this still-relevant satire has endured to the present day.
Douwes Fine Art b.v.
rembrandt van rijn
Rembrandt van Rijn (Leiden 1606-1669 Amsterdam) Self-Portrait in a Cap, Wide-Eyed and Open-Mouthed, 1630 Etching and drypoint on laid paper 5.4 x 4.6 cm Signed in monogram and dated lower centre: RHL 1630 Plate not in existence – with Nowell-Usticke (1967): RRR – a very rare little plate Provenance: private collection, Germany; private collection, The Netherlands Literature: Bartsch 320; Hind 32; The New Hollstein Dutch n° 69: Second state (of II) This is a small masterpiece of Rembrandt's early etchings. The expression of this physiognomic study made by his etching needle could not be more livelike as the facial expression (perhaps "astonishment") is in perfect harmony with the round shape of the face. Rembrandt knows exactly how to hit every tonal gradation with fine, arching strokes. Of all the self-portraits in which Rembrandt depicts emotions, this one is probably the most engaging. He looks startled here, with pursed lips and wide-open eyes. You see him slightly from below, so that he seems to be recoiling. The etching is clearly executed and clever, with the contours of the shoulders and the cap fading into the edges. During his lifetime, Rembrandt's extraordinary skills as a printmaker were the main source of his international fame. Unlike his oil paintings, prints travelled light and were relatively cheap. For this reason, they soon became very popular with collectors not only within but also beyond the borders of the Netherlands. Rembrandt's etchings are remarkable for their high number of self-portraits (over 30 out of about 290). These are particularly collectible, perhaps due to the smaller number of states as well as the artist's compelling and powerful presence. Unlike his stately religious scenes, or regal, posed portraits of others, which exhibit his careful and calculating brilliance as an etcher, Rembrandt's self-portraits reveal him as an artist and a man. In them he assumes the role of the experimenting artist, approaching the most difficult of subjects - himself. These self-portraits are often described as ethereal and wistful for their notable contrasting areas of high and low etched space. A very fine impression of this famous small portrait in the second (final) state, printing clearly, just beginning to show a little wear on the tip of the nose, with narrow margins.
Romigioli Antichità
giuseppe piamontini
Giuseppe Piamontini (Florence, 1664-1744) Small Faun playing with a Satyr, 1710 Carrara marble H 79 cm Signed and dated 1710 Provenance: private collection, Florence Literature: Sandro Bellesi, I marmi di Giuseppe Piamontini, ed. Polistampa 2008 Ideal pendant 'Eros and Anteros' at the Money Museum in Palazzo Pitti, Florence
HELENE BAILLY MARCILHAC
Henri Manguin (Paris 1874-1949 Saint Tropez) La Chemise Enlevée, 1908 Oil on canvas 100 x 81 cm Signed lower right Provenance: acquired from the artist by Eugène Druet in 1911 (Galerie Druet); collection Kritchvesky; private collection, France; private collection, Brasil Exhibitions: Paris, Galerie E. Druet, Manguin, Paris 1913, n° 42; Paris, Galerie de Paris, Manguin, 1964, n° 3; Nice, Palais de la Méditerranée, Henri Manguin, plus de cent cinquante oeuvres, 1969, n° 32; Okayama, Hiroshima, Tokyo, Gustave Moreau et ses éleves, 1974; Paris, Galerie de Paris, Centenaire, Henri Manguin, 1976, n° 49 Literature: Pierre Cabanne, Henri Manguin, Neuchätel, 1964, ill. n° 117, p.64; Marie-Caroline Sainsaulieu, Lucille & Claude Manguin, Jean-Pierre Manguin, Pierre Cabanne, Jacques Lassaigne (preface); Henri Manguin: Catalogue Raisonné de l'oeuvre peint, Neuchâtel, Switzerland, Ides et Calendes, 1980, ill. n° 298
Desmet Fine Arts
Two fragments of a wooden sarcophagus corner post of the Priest Horudja re-united after 50 years Wood Egypt, late Dynastic period, 26th Dynasty, circa 664-525 BC H 92 x W 15 x D 5.5 cm Accompanied by Art Loss Register certificates: S00238635 & S00238636 Provenance: Fragment A: Chakib Slatine, Paris (acquired 1975); private collection, Paris (acquired 1977). Fragment B: Chakib Slatine, Paris (acquired 1975); private collection, Paris (acquired 1977); Ede Gallery, London (of which acquired in 2020)
Samuel Vanhoegaerden Gallery
Bram Bogart (Delft 1921-2012 Sint Truiden) Topgroen, August 1963 Mixed media on canvas laid on wooden panel 161 x 201 cm Signed, dated and titled on reverse Provenance: private collection, London In August 1963, Bram Bogart created a powerful and iconic work: Topgroen (August 1963). The painting – executed with homemade paint on a board/canvas made by the artist himself – measures approximately 161 x 201 cm and testifies to Bogart's radically innovative approach to matter and colour. The work Topgroen is at the heart of Bogart's most highly regarded period, in which he experimented with imposing layers of paint, sculptural reliefs and a colour palette that transcends the surface and becomes almost tangible. In this work, he combines powerful fields of colour with monumental texture: an intense red surface is directly framed by thick, almost architecturally shaped green and yellow accents. The paint is hardly imagination anymore, but matter – as if the paint itself is the object. Topgroen marks a turning point in Bogart's oeuvre: colour and volume become one, the painting resists classical painting through an enormous physical presence of the matter. The work invites tactile viewing: the depth of the paint layers, the shadow effects between reliefs, and the tension between surface and volume make it a masterpiece of material painting. Bogart thus confirms his pioneering role in European post-war abstraction.
Galerie Jean-François Cazeau
kees van dongen
Kees Van Dongen (Rotterdam 1877-1968 Monaco) La Chemise or Femme penchée sur un coussin jaune Oil on canvas 48.5 x 55 cm Signed lower right This work will be included in the forthcoming catalogue raisonné of Kees Van Dongen compiled by the Wildenstein Plattner Institute Provenance: studio of the artist, Paris; private collection, France (Marquise de X); Palais Galliera, 18 May 1964, Paris; Jacques Pignet, Neuilly-sur-Seine, France; Galerie Koller, Zurich, November 1981; Paul Petridès, Paris, France Ader-Picard-Tajan, 25 June 1987, Paris; acquired by the current owner at the above sale Exhibitions: Paris, Galerie de Paris, La Cage aux Fauves, Salon d'Automne, 1905; Paris, Musée National d'Art Moderne, Van Dongen, 13 October-26 November 1967, n° 68; Rotterdam, Museum Boymans van Beuningen, Van Dongen, 8 December 1967-28 January, n° 20; Monaco, Nouveau Musée de Monaco, Kees Van Dongen, 25 June-7 September 2008, n° 139
Galerie Patrice Trigano
césar
César, alias César Baldaccini (Marseille 1921-1998 Paris) Hommage à Eiffel, 1989 Welded bronze Bocquel foundry 280 x 200 x 55 cm Signed and numbered Provenance: acquired from the artist in 1990 Literature: P. Restany, César, éd. De la Différence, Paris, 1988, p. 65 and p. 328 (Monumental version of Cartier Foundation, photography in progress); B.-H. Lévy, César, les bronzes, Éditons de la Différence, Galerie Baubourg, Paris, 1991, p. 24; César, Oeuvres de 1947 à 1993, Musée de Marseille, Réunion des Musées Nationaux, Marseille, 1993, p. 159; César, Galerie Enrico Navarra, Paris, 1996, pp. 76-77; César, Museu Brasileiro da Escultura Marilisa Rathsam, Sao Paulo, 1999, p. 212; Paris, Centre Georges Pompidou, César la rétrospective, December 2017- March 2018, p. 173; Archives Denyse Durand-Ruel, n° 4499 Exhibitions: Marseille, centre de la Vieille Charité, César, oeuvres de 1947 à 1993, July-September 1993, p. 159; Monte-Carlo, César à Monte-Carlo, May-September 1993, (unnumbered); Luxembourg, Dexia Banque Internationale, Hommage à César, October-December 2000, p. 70; Cannes, La Malmaison, César, l’oeuvre de bronze, July-October 2002, p. 86; Travelling exhibition: Cannes, parvis du palais des Festivals, July-September 2002; Geneviève, Galerie Artrium, September-December 2002; Rabat, Musée Mohammed VI d’Art Moderne et Contemporain, César, une histoire méditerranéenne, December 2015-March 2016, reproduced in colour p. 68 and p. 70
Hartford Fine Art - Lampronti Gallery
Francesco Fracanzano (Monopoli 1612-1656 Naples) The incredulity of Saint Thomas Oil on canvas 143 x 205 cm Literature: R. Causa, La pittura del Seicento a Napoli. Dal naturalismo al barocco, Naples, 1972, S. 976, n° 74; G. De Vito, Fracanziano’s periphrasis in XVII century Neapolitan studies, 2003/2004, pp. 104-105, fig. 2; N. Spinosa, XVII c. paintings in Naples, from Caravaggio to Massimo Stanzione, Naples 2010, p. 281 cat. n° 212; A. Della Ragione, Francesco Fracanzano, 2011, p. 10, fig. 23; N. Spinosa, Da Artemisia a Hackert. La collezione di un antiquario, exh. cat., Reggia di Caserta, Foligno 2019, cat. 9, pp. 18-19; N. Spinosa, Il Maestro degli Annunci ai pastori e i pittori del 'tremendo impasto' (Napoli 1625-1650), Rome 2021, cat. C5, p. 193 (quoting further literature: Cairo, 2011, pp. 203-210. Forgione, p. 233, fig. 12) Exhibition: Da Artemisia a Hackert. La collezione di un antiquario, Reggia di Caserta, 2019-2020
Thomas Deprez Fine Arts
jean delville
Jean Delville (Leuven 1867-1953 Brussels) Aveugle, 1888 Oil on canvas 65 x 81 cm Signed and dated l.l.: 'Jean Delville / 1888' Relined, with a fair amount of retouching Provenance: private collection, Brussels, since three generations. Exhibitions: Salon de Gand, XXXIVe Exposition Triennale, Ghent, 1889, cat. n° 166, as: 'Aveugle'; L'Essor, XIIIe exposition annuelle, Brussels, 1889, cat. n° 4, as: 'Aveugle' PRESS F.N., 'Chronique Artistique', dans: Journal de Bruxelles, 24/03/1889, p. 5 (Supplément au Journal de Bruxelles du 24 mars 1889): 'L'Aveugle, la femme si visiblement plongée en des pensées lourdes et étroites, qui se chauffe [...]'
Galerie BA - Berthet Aittouarès
henri michaux
Henri Michaux (Namur 1899-1984 Paris) Untitled, 1964 Ink on paper 75 x 105 cm Monogrammed on the lower right This work is registered in the Henri Michaux archives under the number HM5891 Provenance: Galerie Daniel Cordier, Paris; private collection, France Exhibition: Henri Michaux, Musée national d'Art Moderne, Paris, 1965
Laurent Schaubroeck
Sergio Rodrigues (Rio de Janeiro, 1927-2014) Mucki bench, 1960s Jacaranda, Brazilian rosewood H 29 x W 300 x D 80 cm Produced by Oca Provenance: private home, Brazil First conceived in 1958 and produced by Oca, the Mucki bench is among Sergio Rodrigues’ most versatile and emblematic designs. Its low, rectangular structure with latitudinal slats and rhythmically placed wooden buttons reflects the refined balance between simplicity and sophistication that characterises Rodrigues’ work. This exceptional example, measuring three metres in length and an unusual 80 cm in depth, was made to measure in the 1960s - an extremely rare proportion that highlights the adaptability of Rodrigues’ design to specific commissions. Crafted in solid rosewood, the bench showcases the rich tonal variations and expressive veins of the wood, underscoring its sculptural quality. A remarkable and rare original, it remains in excellent vintage condition, bearing witness to the enduring relevance of Rodrigues’ vision.
Almine Rech
hans op de beeck
Hans Op de Beeck (Turnhout, 1969) Crow, 2025 MDF, metal, polyamide, coating and bronze H 160 x W 80 x D 56 cm - Weight 39 kg Edition of 5 plus 2 APs Provenance: Studio of the Artist 'Crow' is a kinetic sculpture of a life-size flying crow. Powered by a mechanical system, the crow's flight creates the illusion of forward motion, although it remains suspended in place. 'Crow' evokes the world of fables and classic animated films, in which animals take on human traits. The work also alludes to the age-old tradition of mechanically animated figures, whose repetitive, joyless movements often inspire a quiet melancholy. At the same time, it is striking how lifelike and fluid such mechanically simplified movements can sometimes appear.
Desmet Fine Arts
Pietra dura table top Coloured marble, alabaster and onyx Roman workshop, circa 1565-1600 H 6 x W 104.5 x D 83 cm Accompanied by Art Loss Register certificate: S00253658 Provenance: private collection, Lombardy (Italy) The pietra dura tabletop represents a symbiosis that evokes the rediscovery of the ancient world. The colored marbles used all originate from ancient Roman marble, brought to Rome from across the Roman Empire as early as the 3rd century BCE. In late 16th-century Rome, artists repurposed columns and all manner of these ancient Roman artifacts, reshaping them into sumptuous tabletops to decorate the grand palazzi. This work visualizes how 16th-century Rome sought to reclaim the identity and power of the great Roman Empire, and it must be fully understood within the context of the decoration of St. Peter’s Basilica, when Rome was once again regarded as the center of the world. The patterns are architecturally and geometrically designed to showcase the rarest marbles to their fullest effect. In this specific example, around 1800, the edge underwent restoration, during which the finest artists of the time added a black decorative band. Their aim was to frame what was already spectacular with a dignified restoration. Although created in the late 16th century, this piece radiates two millennia of superiority—politically, socially, artistically, and art historically.