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Giorgio Morandi
Description
- Natura Morta
- Signed Morandi (lower center)
- Oil on canvas
- 12 by 11 7/8 in.
- 30.5 by 30 cm
Provenance
Private Collection, Milan
Private Collection, France
MDG Fine Arts Ltd., London
Acquired from the above by the present owner
Exhibited
Literature
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.
Catalogue Note
The present work depicts a dynamic ensemble of objects that vary in size, shape, design and finish. The play of light and shadow between the objects emphasizes their three-dimensionality, a departure from Morandi's more abstract works of this period. While the painting displays a subtle coloration characteristic of the artist's still-lifes, the cool tone of the background stands in contrast with the pink and yellow of the two containers in the front row. In contrast to the austere, highly geometrical style of Morandi's later still-lifes, the present Natura morta displays a rich and dynamic composition, combining the verticality of the jugs and bottles with the strong rectangular shapes of these two colorful cannisters. The sense of classical beauty and harmony in the present work is derived from the elegance and stone-like coloration of the jars, which is amplified by the curves and flutes of the bottle in the center, reminiscent of an ancient Greek column.