LONDON.- The London Photographs sale at
Christie´s on Friday 26 November encapsulates the power of the muse in visual culture over the last 60 years. The auction comprises over 150 works, with landmark images of fine art photography and a dedicated section celebrating icons of fashion; from Norman Parkinson through to Terry Richardson. Famous faces continue to captivate, inspire and delight globally, symbolising glamour, beauty and intrigue. The sale features works from the private collections of James Danziger and following the 100% sold works from the Norman Hall Collection in May, 39 further celebrated vintage prints from the 1940s, 50s and 60s will be offered. Estimates range from £1,500 to £80,000.
The Norman Hall Collection showcases the original ‘Malboro Man’ with Leonard McCombe’s Portrait of Texas Cowboy Clarence Hailey Long, 1949, for Life Magazine (estimate: £4,000-6,000). This image was the inspiration for Richard Prince’s Untitled (Cowboy), the current world auction record for any photograph.
Original 90s Supermodels Christie, Cindy, Naomie and Natalia are all featured, shot by some of the world’s most celebrated photographers, including Christy Turlington, New York, 1996 by Ellen von Unwerth (estimate: £3,000-5,000). Other highlights include Fashion study for Comme des Garcons, 11 January 1985 by Peter Linbergh (estimate: £3,000-5,000); Cindy Crawford, Vanity Fair, 1992 by Michael Comte (estimate: £2,500-3,5000) and Kate Moss, 2005 by Rankin (estimate: £4,000-6,000).
Intense visual magnetism is exemplified in Jack Nicholson by Albert Watson, 1998, (estimate: £12,000-18,000); John Lennon and Paul McCartney, 1965, (estimate: £15,000-20,000) and Johnny Depp, 1999, (estimate: £7,000-9,000), both by David
Bailey. Robert Mapplethorpe’s Self-portrait, circa 1972 (estimate: £6,000-8,000) is a seminal early photograph from the artist’s self portraits. This work is currently exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
Following Christie’s New York 100% sold sale of Three Decades with Irving Penn: Photographs from the Collection of Patricia McCabe, in April 2010, it is a privilege to present the platinum print Picasso (B), Cannes, 1957 (estimate: £60,000-80,000).
Penn’s masterful direction of the male sitter is further reflected in Cecil Beaton, 1950 (estimate: £8,000-12,000). Quintessential elegant beauty is captured in Woman with Roses on her Arm (Lisa Fonssagrives-Penn), 1950 (estimate: £40,000-60,000).