Art Market Monitor

Global Coverage ~ Unique Analysis

  • AMMpro
  • AMM Fantasy Collecting Game
  • Podcast
  • Contact Us

Lost Lempicka Discovered at Sotheby’s

March 26, 2012 by Marion Maneker

Sotheby’s announces the discovery of a lost Tamara de Lempicka painting from her first exhibition in Milan in 1925. Simon Shaw told Reuters that “She is now one of the most desirable of all female modern artists” and “It’s rare that you can actually prove that a picture is this great, long lost work as a result of a gallery installation photograph, as in this case.” Sotheby’s own release picks up the story:

The whereabouts of Nu adossé I have been unknown for most of its recorded history. The catalogue raisonné for the artist, published in 1999, included an image of the present work (pictured above) taken at the Milan exhibition in 1925, and listed it as “location unknown.” Last year, Sotheby’s was contacted by the West Coastbased owner of the painting. He described finding the work many years before and, while not realizing its importance at the time, he had appreciated its aesthetic appeal and kept it in his home. It was a decade later, after the owner learned that he possibly owned an original Lempicka, that an art consultant advised him to contact Sotheby’s. Following first-hand inspection and subsequent research, the work was confirmed to be the lost Lempicka. The exciting discovery of this painting fills an important art historical gap in the artist’s work.

Nu adossé I is appearing on the market at a time of unprecedented interest in the artist. Over the course of the past year, several new benchmarks have been set for Lempicka’s work at Sotheby’s – in June 2011, a new auction record was set for the artist when her La dormeuse sold for $6.6 million. Five months later, that record was broken again at Sotheby’s when Le rêve achieved $8.5 million.

Lost Lempicka to Fetch Millions at Auction (Reuters)

More from Art Market Monitor

  • German Gov't Reaffirms Restitution CommitmentGerman Gov't Reaffirms Restitution Commitment
  • Outsider Art Attracts Curators, Will Collectors Follow?Outsider Art Attracts Curators, Will Collectors Follow?
  • Miró Constellation to be Sold at Sotheby’s in JuneMiró Constellation to be Sold at Sotheby’s in June
  • Artelligence for October 27, 2017Artelligence for October 27, 2017
  • Miami Art Fair Stays LocalMiami Art Fair Stays Local
  • The Real Issue Behind the Koons Balloon Dog Cease-and-Desist LetterThe Real Issue Behind the Koons Balloon Dog Cease-and-Desist Letter

Filed Under: Artists

About Marion Maneker

LiveArt

Want to get Art Market Monitor‘s posts sent to you in our email? Sign up below by clicking on the Subscribe button.

  • About Us/ Contact
  • Podcast
  • AMMpro
  • Newsletter
  • FAQ

twitterfacebooksoundcloud
Privacy Policy
Terms & Conditions
California Privacy Rights
Do Not Sell My Personal Information
Advertise on Art Market Monitor
 

Loading Comments...