LONDON.- Christies has been entrusted with selling the core collection of 230 artworks from the legendary London restaurants Langans Brasserie and Odins in December 2012. Ten works will be offered during the Modern British Art Evening Sale on 12 December and a dedicated sale Peter Langan: A Life with Art will present the main body of 220 works at Christies South Kensington on 18 December. The works - which have been part of Langans and Odins much loved mise-en-scene and the backdrop to many a memorable evening - are expected to realise a combined total in excess of £1 million.
A name synonymous with the rocking roll-call of the music, movie, art and literature glitterati in the late 1970s and throughout the 80s, Langans Brasserie in London was opened in 1976 by Peter Langan (1941-1988) also the owner of Odins a favourite restaurant with artists such as Patrick Procktor, David Hockney and R.B. Kitaj - in partnership with Hollywood icon Michael Caine. Two became three in 1977 when Richard Shepherd came aboard having previously been head chef at the Michelin starred Capital Hotel, London later going on to own Shepherds in Westminster, a restaurant frequented by many politicians. The rendezvous of choice, Langans was the eclectic and electric hub for everyone from Mick Jagger to Sean Connery and Jack Nicholson to gather, dine and party. It has since been emulated with varying degrees of success by many other great restaurateurs.
William Porter, Senior Director, 20th Century British & Irish Art, Christies London: Anyone who met Peter Langan has an extraordinary tale to tell and the more you hear the harder it is to differentiate the man from the legend. His passion for collecting pictures is indisputable and remained unabated for more than 20 years; his relationship with great contemporary artists of the day is particularly notable. It is a great honour to be have been entrusted with auctioning the core of Peter Langans collection, raising a glass to the life of the great bon viveur and celebrating the work of artists from David Hockney, R.B Kitaj and Patrick Procktor to Gaston La Touche, Lawrence Toynbee and Eliot Hodgkin, among many others, ahead of the next chapter of Langans.
Richard Shepherd: I was very lucky that I learned a lot from Peter Langan and over the years acquired with him many of the paintings that are being offered. They are sure to be familiar to many; conjuring wonderful memories and providing unique opportunities. People do not need to worry, Langans will continue the tradition of surrounding diners with a wide array of art, retaining our signature atmosphere of creativity and comfort. We also hope that the young artists of today will continue the tradition at Langans of eating down their work.
CHRISTIES LONDON, 12 DECEMBER 2012
Highlights offered in the Modern British Art Evening Sale
David Hockney and R.B. Kitaj, like many of the great Impressionist and Modern artists, on occasion gave Peter Langan drawings and prints in exchange for meals or as gifts, having been initially introduced at Odins by Patrick Procktor in 1967.
Hockney and Langan went on to become friends and the 10 works offered within the Modern British Art Evening Sale are led by a classic large Portrait of Peter Langan in Los Angeles by David Hockney, which was painted in the early 1980s and a gift from the artist to the sitter (estimate: £100,000 150,000).
Further Hockney highlights which were gifts between the friends include a striking Still life with flowers and lobster at Odins, circa 1980 (estimate: £50,000 80,000), an evocative and charming Portrait of Peter Langan with a glass of wine (estimate: £20,000-30,000) and Interior of Odins Restaurant, circa 1980 (estimate: £25,000 35,000). Works by R.B. Kitaj include his playful drawing in charcoal and pastel Sailor and Girl, a gift from the artist to the sitter which is affectionately signed and dedicated for Peter with love (estimate: £15,000-25,000).
CHRISTIES SOUTH KENSINGTON, 18 DECEMBER 2012
PETER LANGAN: A LIFE WITH ART
A true celebration of Langans - the man himself and his restaurants - Christies dedicated South Kensington sale Peter Langan: A Life with Art captures the inextricable fusion of good food, good wine and good fun with good art that is synonymous with the legendary hot spot; estimates start at just £800. Works by David Hockney include the artists first portrait of Langan in 1967 (estimate: £15,000-25,000) and Peter Langan and Jean-Marc Moussis (estimate: £15,000 25,000).
In 1975 Hockney was commissioned to design the sets and costumes for Stravinskys The Rakes Progress to be performed at Glyndebourne, his friendship with Peter Langan led Langan to organise the now famous Glyndebourne Banquet, an event recorded by the photographer Bob Marchant in his painting Peter Langans
feast for David Hockney at Glyndbourne to celebrate the first night of The Rakes Progress (estimate: £5,000-8,000).
Capturing other very different types of occasions full of drama is Anatomy of Love by the French 19th century artist Gaston La Touche (estimate: £20,000 30,000) and Chelsea vs Spurs at Stamford Bridge, 1953, by Lawrence Toynbee, which
was exhibited at both The Fine Art Society and York City Art Gallery in 1985 (estimate: £10,000 15,000).
Demonstrating the breadth of subjects and artists featured, other works range from Eights at Henley, by John Cosmo Clark (estimate: £10,000 15,000), Faust and Lilith, by Richard Westall (estimate: £7,000 10,000) and Berries, by Eliot Hodgkin (estimate: £6,000 8,000), to works by Patrick Procktor, one of the very first artists among Peter Langans clientele, including Still Life with Flowers (estimate: £2,000 3,000), Vaparetto Terminal (estimate: £2,000 3,000) and Portrait of Peter Langan (estimate: £1,000 1,500).