CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA.- Quinn & Farmer’s beautifully varied Oct. 25 auction of furniture, art and decorative art is led by an early self-portrait by one of Virginia’s most accomplished native sons, Cy Twombly (1928-2011). The story behind the artwork, which is estimated at $30,000-$50,000, reveals Twombly’s very Southern trait of building and nurturing long-term friendships.

“Before he moved to Rome and became an artist of international acclaim, Twombly was just another one of the friendly folks in Lexington, Virginia,” said Ken Farmer of Quinn & Farmer. “His best friends in the area were the Hess family. When the Hess’s son, Skip, was born in 1950, Cy created cartoon studies of Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and Fiddler Pig to hang on the nursery wall. As Skip grew up, he and Cy spent time together fishing and hiking around Cy’s cabin on the Maury River. On his ninth birthday, Cy gave Skip a signed 1947 self-portrait and inscribed it ‘To Skipper from Cy 1959.’ They maintained their close friendship until Cy’s death three years ago.”
The cartoon studies join the self-portrait in Quinn & Farmer’s Oct. 25 auction. Each is estimated at $1,000-$2,000.

Emilia Penney, Furniture & Design Specialist for Quinn & Farmer said, “This early self-portrait of Twombly captures a simple and abstract depiction of the artist before the evolution of his famous text and line compositions. We are honored to have been chosen to sell this piece and elated to see it sell in Virginia, not far from where Cy grew up.” The work is executed on paper in graphite, ink and gouache.

Additional items of notable quality in this auction include an all-original 1956 Les Paul Goldtop electric guitar estimated at $10,000-$15,000; two Jesus Rafael de Soto (Venezuelan, 1923-2005) modernist sculptures (estimated at $10,000-$15,000 and $8,000-$12,000, respectively), a 1971 Ford Mustang convertible estimated at $10,000-$15,000, a fine Sioux dress from the 1870s, $6,500-$8,000; and a lovely 19th-century Southern huntboard estimated at $1,000-$2,000. 
    
The October 25, 2014 auction will be held at 10:00 a.m. EST at the Quinn & Farmer Auctions gallery located at 2109 India Road, Charlottesville, VA 22901. All forms of bidding are available, including live online via www.liveauctioneers.com and www.invaluable.com. View the fully illustrated catalog online at www.quinnfarmer.com. 

For additional details on any lot in the sale or to organize a phone or absentee bid, call 434-293-2904 or e-mail information@quinnfarmer.com. Visit Quinn & Farmer Auctions online at www.quinnfarmer.com.