Details

Provenance

Gimpel Fils Gallery Ltd., London Galerie Krugier et Cie, Geneva Walter & Gertrud Hadorn, Bern Henriette Günthardt von Rütte, Zürich Acquired directly from the above by the present owner

Exhibited

Zürich, Gimpel & Hanover Galerie; London, Gimpel Fils Gallery Ltd., Nicolas de Staël , 1963, no. 4, illustrated Lausanne, Palais de Beaulieu, Chefs-d'Oeuvre des Collections Suisses de Manet à Picasso , 1964 Saint-Paul, Fondation Maeght, Staël , 1972, p. 59, no. 15, illustrated Bern, Kunstmuseum Bern, Sammlung Hadorn , 1977, no. 125, illustrated in colour Parma, Fondazione Magnani Rocca, Nicolas de Staël , 1994, p. 69, no. 11, illustrated in colour Paris, Centre Pompidou, Nicolas de Staël , 2003, p. 81, no. 50, illustrated in colour Ravenna, Museo d'Arte della Città di Ravenna, Turner Monet Pollock: dal Romanticismo all'Informale, Omaggio a Francesco Arcangeli , 2006

Literature

Jacques Dubourg & Françoise de Staël, Nicolas de Staël, Catalogue Raisonné des Peintures , Paris 1968, p. 97, no. 126, illustrated André Chastel, Nicolas de Staël: l'Impatience et la Jubilation , Paris 1972, pp. 59, 158, no. 15, illustrated Jean-Pierre Jouffroy, La Mesure de Nicolas de Staël , Neuchâtel 1981, p. 44, no. 16, illustrated in colour Françoise de Staël, Nicolas de Staël, Catalogue Raisonné de l'Oeuvre Peint , Neuchâtel, 1997, p. 246, no. 151, illustrated in colour Condition Colour:<br>The colours in the catalogue illustration are fairly accurate, although the overall tonality is richer and deeper with less contrast. The greens throughout the composition tend more towards darker sage-green in the original.<br>The catalogue illustration does not fully convey the richly textured impasto work present in the original.<br><br>Condition: <br>This work is in very good condition. There are a few losses to some of the impastoed peaks, only visible upon very close inspection. There are several very fine surface cracks to the composition with tiny spots of associated paint loss and raised edges. There are very light rub marks to all four extreme corners. There are some very small networks of stable craquelure to the green paint at the centre of the top right hand quadrant. There is a very light layer of surface dirt throughout. Examination under ultra violet light reveals spots of possible retouching particularly at the top edge, the centre of the lower edge and two spots at the centre of the composition. "In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue. NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Catalog summary

Nicolas de Staël Composition (La Palette) signed and dated 1948 on the reverse oil on canvas 81.6 by 116.5cm.; 32 1/8 by 45 7/8 in. Provenance Gimpel Fils Gallery Ltd., London Galerie Krugier et Cie, Geneva Walter & Gertrud Hadorn, Bern Henriette Günthardt von Rütte, Zürich Acquired directly from the above by the present owner Exhibited Zürich, Gimpel & Hanover Galerie; London, Gimpel Fils Gallery Ltd., Nicolas de Staël , 1963, no. 4, illustrated Lausanne, Palais de Beaulieu, Chefs-d'Oeuvre des Collections Suisses de Manet à Picasso , 1964 Saint-Paul, Fondation Maeght, Staël , 1972, p. 59, no. 15, illustrated Bern, Kunstmuseum Bern, Sammlung Hadorn , 1977, no. 125, illustrated in colour Parma, Fondazione Magnani Rocca, Nicolas de Staël , 1994, p. 69, no. 11, illustrated in colour Paris, Centre Pompidou, Nicolas de Staël , 2003, p. 81, no. 50, illustrated in colour Ravenna, Museo d'Arte della Città di Ravenna, Turner Monet Pollock: dal Romanticismo all'Informale, Omaggio a Francesco Arcangeli , 2006 Literature Jacques Dubourg & Françoise de Staël, Nicolas de Staël, Catalogue Raisonné des Peintures , Paris 1968, p. 97, no. 126, illustrated André Chastel, Nicolas de Staël: l'Impatience et la Jubilation , Paris 1972, pp. 59, 158, no. 15, illustrated Jean-Pierre Jouffroy, La Mesure de Nicolas de Staël , Neuchâtel 1981, p. 44, no. 16, illustrated in colour Françoise de Staël, Nicolas de Staël, Catalogue Raisonné de l'Oeuvre Peint , Neuchâtel, 1997, p. 246, no. 151, illustrated in colour Condition Colour:<br>The colours in the catalogue illustration are fairly accurate, although the overall tonality is richer and deeper with less contrast. The greens throughout the composition tend more towards darker sage-green in the original.<br>The catalogue illustration does not fully convey the richly textured impasto work present in the original.<br><br>Condition: <br>This work is in very good condition. There are a few losses to some of the impastoed peaks, only visible upon very close inspection. There are several very fine surface cracks to the composition with tiny spots of associated paint loss and raised edges. There are very light rub marks to all four extreme corners. There are some very small networks of stable craquelure to the green paint at the centre of the top right hand quadrant. There is a very light layer of surface dirt throughout. Examination under ultra violet light reveals spots of possible retouching particularly at the top edge, the centre of the lower edge and two spots at the centre of the composition. "In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue. NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."