New York, Venice, Sao Paolo, Los Angeles, & London Calling - Clarke's Sixth Fine Art Auction

    LARCHMONT, NY, February 04, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ -- On Monday, May 4, 2009, Clarke will host its Sixth Fine Art Auction, featuring fresh-to-market and exceptional 19th and 20th Century paintings and sculpture.

Art 'Bull' Market at Clarke?
In the teeth of a highly publicized art auction downturn, Clarke's Fifth Fine Art Auction in October 2008 shattered the world record for African-American artist Beauford Delaney, and sold 92% of its lots, most within or above their auction estimates, and to buyers from five continents.

Clarke's Sixth Fine Art Auction in May 2009 will again offer estate-fresh, unusual, and exceptional works from artists such as Eva Hesse, Bob Thompson, John Beigel, Jean Xceron, Paul Henry, Ettore Simonetti, Carlo Donati, Daphne Henrion-Hardy, Richard Munsell, and Insho Domoto.

New York
Highlights include a 1961 ink and wash by Eva Hesse with full documentation; a circa 1855 still life by the mysterious John Beigel, a large 1940 oil on canvas by Greek-American Jean Xceron, and a 1949 work by Fredric Karoly that Clarke believes was exhibited at the first Sao Paolo Biennale in 1951. The Beigel is only the second work by this 19th Century German-American artist to have surfaced at auction in the past 150 years.

Thompson by Thompson, 1960
African-American art, a Clarke specialty, will feature an historically important 1960 self-portrait by Bob Thompson, and works from Richard Dempsey, Oliver Johnson, and Russ Thompson. The Thompson self-portrait comes with complete provenance and was exhibited at The New School in 1969.

International art includes works from Paul Henry, Ettore Simonetti, Carlo Donati, Georgios Derpapas, Maximilien Luce, Gabrielle Rigo, Franticek Cermak, Eugenie Van Ham, and Peter Parsus. Clarke believes that one of the Donati's was exhibited in Venice c.1900; the Parsus was entered into the French "Prix Antral" competition in 1952. The Henrion-Hardy is a bronze bust of her lover, the novelist Arthur Koestler. Clarke is also featuring a collection of works exhibited in the 1960's at London's Grosvenor Gallery, recently deaccessioned by a Jewish institution.

Clarke expects to be auctioning an oil attributed to Claude Monet from the collection of Chester Dale.

Dali
Of special interest is the five-volume 1967 Biblia Sacra by Rizzoli with lithographs by Salvador Dali. Uniquely, this set was hand-inscribed in the frontispiece by Dali with original drawings.

Founder and owner Ronan Clarke notes that "we already have bidders competing for the unique and museum-quality pieces - works like the Hesse, the Bob Thompson, the Beigel, and the classic Paul Henry." He adds "our strategy will not change - combine great fresh-to-market art with realistic estimates, few reserves, low fees, and consignors and buyers will both win."

Clarke, actively purchasing and accepting consignments for our May 2009 Fine Art Auction; specialists in African-American, Judaic, WPA, and New York artists.

For further information or consignments, please call Clarke at 914-833-8336 or visit its website at www.clarkeny.com

About Clarke Auction Gallery

Clarke Auction Gallery, Westchester's Premier Auction Gallery, conducts catalogued sales monthly featuring distinctive fine and decorative arts, antiques, exceptional furniture, oriental rugs, sterling silver and mid-century modern. For further information, please contact us at (914) 833-8336 or [email protected]

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