René Magritte

William N. & Noma Copley, New York (a gift from the artist in 1959)
Acquired from the above by the present owner in 1989

Letter from Noma Copley to Magritte, 6th October 1959
Letter from Magritte to William & Noma Copley, 8th Ocober 1959
Harry Torczyner, Magritte: Ideas and Images, New York, 1977, fig. 225, illustrated p. 125 (as dating from 1960)
David Sylvester (ed.), Sarah Whitfield & Michael Raeburn, René Magritte, Catalogue Raisonné, Oil Paintings, Objects and Bronzes 1949-1967, London, 1993, vol. III, no. 1079, illustrated p. 454

There are several tiny spots of retouching in the sky, visible under ultra-violet light. Apart from some minor surface dirt and some minor rubbing at the top of the bottle, this work is in good condition.
"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 first of Magritte's painted bottles was probably executed in the autumn of 1940, when he wrote to Edward James telling him about this idea. Some months later James, who had moved to America and was trying to find ways of helping Magritte, reminded him of that letter and suggested that a ready market for painted bottles was to be found in the States. The war prevented Magritte from sending the bottles to America, but he executed a small number of them to sell or give away at home. Many were done in response to requests from friends and collectors.

The present example and another painted bottle titled Femme-bouteille (D. Sylvester (ed.), op. cit., no. 1078) were executed for the New York collectors William N. and Noma Copley. According to the Catalogue Raisonné, 'In a letter dated 8 October 1959 Magritte told the Copleys he would paint two bottles [including the present work] for them while staying with them at Longpont [...]. William Copley gave Magritte in exchange a bottle he painted at the same time, and a photograph by Jacqueline Hyde [fig. 1], records the occasion' (ibid., p. 454).

William and Noma Copley were distinguished collectors and supporters of Surrealism, and their collection included seminal works by artists including Magritte, Ernst, Duchamp, Bellmer and Man Ray. The majority of the Surrealist works were sold at auction at Sotheby's New York in November 1979, and a number of them were acquired by major museums. The present work, however, remained in Noma Copley's collection after the couple's separation, and was acquired directly from her by the present owner.