Peter Max ‘Umbrella Man’ to cap off fine art auction June 20  

NEW YORK – Jasper 52 will present a Premium Fine Art Auction on Wednesday, June 20, that will feature approximately 30 original paintings in addition to photography, etchings and lithographs. This collection includes works by Peter Max, Bernard Buffet, David Burliuk and Itzchak Tarkay. Absentee and Internet live bidding is available through LiveAuctioneers.

Topping the lineup is Peter Max’s famous Umbrella Man character, who appears in several of his other works. The bright, rainbow colors and soft curves are applied in smooth, bold strokes. The figure and background appear in contrasting spectrums, complementing each other and creating a cheerful, vibrant work (above). Peter Max (born 1937) is, along with Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein and Robert Indiana, one of the most renowned artists working in the Pop Art style. His work has enjoyed significant commercial and popular appeal, working on projects for 7 Up, the United States Postal Service and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He lives in New York and continues to produce new work.

Russian Soldier on a Horse (below) is a wonderful oil painting by David Burliuk, who was known as the “father of Russian Futurism.” In his most active period, he participated in many important avant-garde exhibitions in Kyiv, Moscow, St. Petersburg and Munich. Burliuk’s exuberance for life, his creative force left a lasting impact on the history of modernism. His later work reflected the life in rural Russia. This image is an expression of his memories of childhood in Russia at the turn of the century.

Nicola Simbari (1927-2012) is considered one of Italy’s most important artists of the past half-century. His work is renowned for its Mediterranean themes and exciting use of color. He is considered a semi-abstract painter. His work can be found in major private collections including the Exxon Corp., Pepsico, Christian Dior and General Mills. Simbari is represented in the Jasper52 auction by a gouache and wash on paper titled Pier and Docks.

Two watercolors by Israeli artist Itzchak Tarkay are included in the auction. His art was influenced by French Impressionism and Post-Impressionism, particularly Matisse and Toulouse-Lautrec. His Afternoon Chat (below) is a fine example.

Bernard Benedict Hemy (British, 1844-1910) loved the bustling everyday marine activity that took place near the mouth of the Tyne River, in the north of England near Newcastle. His realistic and skillful portrayals of these scenes document the life and atmosphere that he observed apparently on nearly a daily basis from around 1875 until his death in 1913. Shipping Scene on the Tyne River (below) is typical of the artist’s work with its expansive view of the somewhat chaotic shipping activity around Newcastle, though it is larger than most.

William Albert Clark’s family was known for their equestrian paintings since the early 1800s. Clark was one of the family’s last painters, having worked between the years 1906 and 1937. His painting in the Jasper52 auction, an elegant and charming portrait of a beautiful chestnut horse, is signed by the artist and dated 1925. The artist’s skill lies in getting the confirmation of the horse correct, the proper proportions of the head and neck, and the animal’s musculature.

The auction will begin Wednesday, June 30, at 8 p.m. Eastern Time.