PARIS.- The Post-War and Contemporary Art department will present two works of art coming from the personal collection of Charles Aznavour (1924-2018). The singer, who passed last year, was passionate about art as evidenced by the two sculptures offered at auction on 4 June.

La Tauromachie is probably one of the most emblematic work by Germaine Richier (1902-1959). Conceived by the artist in 1953 and realised in an edition of 11, this bronze sculpture with a gold patina was acquired by Charles Aznavour from his friend, the singer Fred Mella, member of the Compagnons de la chanson. Present in several prestigious institutional collections (Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Humlebæk; Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, New York ; Musée Royal d'Art Moderne, Bruxelles), it currently holds the world auction record for a Germaine Richier’s work of art (3,086,400 euros in December 2017).

The exceptional work of art will be on view in New-York (4-16 May) and Hong-Kong (22-25 May) before being presented to the Parisian public (27 May-4 June). It is estimated at 1,500,000 and 2,500,000 euros.

A sculpture by César (1921-1998) entitled Plaque Tesconi (named after the Tesconi foundry which the artist worked with) and made in 1958 will be also offered during the evening sale. It is estimated between 60,000 and 80,000 euros.

Anne Lamunière (Christie’s Genève) and Paul Nyzam (Christie’s Paris), specialists of the Post-War and Contemporary Art department: “Acclaimed around the world, Charles Aznavour is one of the most popular artists of the 20th century and it is with an immense joy that we are paying him tribute by offering two works coming from his personal collection. From Goya to Picasso, bullfighting has always been a recurrent subject in art history, making La Tauromachie a masterfuland universal work of art. By presenting Germaine Richier and Charles Aznavour face to face, we are creating a beautiful dialogue between two legendary figures.”