ADOLPHE MONTICELLI (1824-1886), oil painting on panel, Walk in forest, France Panel: 16 in. x 11 in. = 40 x 27.5 cm; Frame: 24 in x 18.5 in. = 60 cm x 46 cm; Weight with frame: 8.5 lb. = 3.8 kg; "A Walk in the Forest"; forest with two ladies. Signed: Monticelli In a lower left. Also marked on verso, "Monticelli". Later gilt frame. Descriptive strip on verso reading, "Ex. Coll. Norton Simon, Museum of Art, Beverley Hills". Provenance: from the collection of Norton Simon References: Biography of the artist: Born in Marseilles, Adolphe Monticelli worked in his hometown and in Paris. He studied under Paul Delaroche in 1846-8 in Paris and also learned from examining the Old Masters work in the Louver. In 1856 (Paris) he acquainted with Diaz and was influenced by his style and colors He painted landscapes, still lives, portraits, and circus scenes. His career reached its height in the 1860s. Van Gogh greatly admired by Monticelli's work After the Franco-Prussian War began, Monticelli returned to Marseilles to retire. Prices Realized at Auction House "Christies": 6,875 = $9,522 Size: 14 x 18. 3/4 in. (37 x 46.3 cm = 1,713 sq cm) 10,800 = $20,768 Size: 14 x 8 in. (37cm x 23 cm = 851 sq cm) $37,500 Size 63 x 38 in. (161.3 x 97.8 = 15,775 sq. cm) 9,200 = $15,254 Size 11 x 20 in. (29.2 x 51.4 cm = 1,500 sq cm) Prices realized at Auction house: "Damien Leclere"-France, Marceille 36,993 = $60,615 "Le Bal masque", oil on panel 19.3 x 28.1 in (49 x 71.5 cm = 3,503 sq. cm) 36,091 = 40,000 EUR = 59,136 USD, "Femmes dans les Sous Bois" Size: 21.7 x 40.2 in (55 x 102 cm =5,610 sq. cm) Norton Winfred Simon (February 5, 1907-June 2, 1993), in the United States was a millionaire industrialist and philanthropist based in California. His significant art collection is housed in the Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena, California. Simon also accumulated a significant private art collection which included works of the Impressionists, Old Masters, modern and native art. He served as a trustee of the Los Angeles County Museum of History, Science and Art and supported the development of the LA County Museum of Art. Simon initially lent most of his art collection to that Museum although as it expanded he pioneered the "museum without walls" concept by actively lending his collection to different museums around the world. Simon's collection holds three autograph Rembrandt paintings, considered highly important works of Rembrandt in Southern California. In 1972 Norton Simon bought a tenth-century South Indian bronze Nataraja, or dancing Shiva, from New York dealer Ben Heller for $900,000. The Indian government declared that the statue had been stolen from a temple in Tamil Nadu and smuggled abroad. Although Simon was quoted (New York Times, 12 May 1973) as saying that he had knowingly bought smuggled art (Hell yes, it was smuggled. I spent between $15 and $16 million in the last two years on Asian art, and most of it was smuggled) he vehemently denied the quote (Los Angeles Times, 13 May 1973), declaring that the work had been legally imported into the United States. In the same Los Angeles Times article, he stated, As a collector deeply and emotionally involved in art, I deplore the rape of art treasures of any country. In 1976 Simon reached an amicable agreement with the Union of India whereby he agreed to return the Nataraja to India. In exchange, the Indian government agreed that Simon could keep and display the bronze in his museum for nine years before its return. Seeking a permanent home for his collection of over 4,000 objects, in 1972 he welcomed an overture from the financially troubled Pasadena Museum of Modern Art. He ultimately assumed control and naming rights, and in 1974 it was renamed the Norton Simon Museum. In 1987, the University of California, Los Angeles, announced an "agreement in principle" with Simon for the transfer to the university of the art collection owned by two Simon foundations - the Norton Simon Foundation and the Norton Simon Art Foundation.[1] The plan was to keep most of collection in Pasadena, administered by UCLA, the Simon board and the Norton Simon Foundation. The university was to build a separate museum facility on campus for part of the collection.[2] However, Simon withdrew his offer three months after the announcement was made.[3]
Condition Perfect for the age, no defects;
Low Estimate: 20000;
High Estimate: 40000;
Original: Yes;