Serge Poliakoff

Mme. Knoedler, Paris
Galerie d'Art Colisée, Paris
Sale: Sotheby's, London, Contemporary Art, 26 June 1997, Lot 43
Acquired directly from the above by the present owner

St Gallen, Kunstmuseum, Rétrospective Serge Poliakoff, 1966, no. 36
Paris, Galerie Mostini, Salon de Mars, 1989, p. 112, illustrated in colour

La Gazette de l'Hôtel Drouot, November 1989, p. 249, illustrated in colour
Morale et Politique en Péril, Paris 1992, illustrated on the cover

Colour: The colours in the illustration are fairly accurate, although the overall tonality is deeper and richer in the original, with the greens in the composition tending more towards forest green, the red to a slightly more muted, burgundy red, the blue to darker petrol blue, and the white in the central passage to greyish-white. The catalogue illustration does not fully convey the varied surface texture present in the original. Condition: This work is in very good condition. There is a patch of dry craquelure and fine surface cracks (some with raised edges) to the green pigment in the lower left quadrant, which has resulted in a few tiny media losses and spots of pigment lifting. There is some evidence of minor wear and rubbing around the extreme edges. On close inspection there are two tiny media losses beneath the centre of the right extreme edge, and a further pinprick-sized media loss to the raised red impasto in the lower part of the red pigment. There is some light surface blooming in places to the pigment throughout, notably to the upper right quadrant. Under ultraviolet light there is a small spot of retouching adjacent to the upper centre of the right edge.
"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."

The authenticity of this work has kindly been confirmed by Alexis Poliakoff