Abraham Manievich

Estate of the Artist
Private Collection, Florida
Acquired directly from the above by the present owner

This painting is clean and varnished. The canvas is un-lined but the tacking edges have been reinforced to allow for proper stretching on a new stretcher. The condition appears to be good and robust. There are a few small retouches are visible under ultraviolet light in the center of the right edge and on the lower right edge, however very few if any restorations are visible anywhere else and it seems likely that this picture has survived very well. The painting should be hung as is. The following condition report has been provided by Simon Parkes of Simon Parkes Art Conservation, Inc. 502 East 74th St. New York, NY 212-734-3920, simonparkes@msn.com , an independent restorer who is not an employee of Sotheby's.
"This lot is offered for sale subject to Sotheby's Conditions of Business, which are available on request and printed in Sotheby's sale catalogues. The independent reports contained in this document are provided for prospective bidders' information only and without warranty by Sotheby's or the Seller."

While typically known for his richly dynamic landscapes, Manievich devoted considerable energy to still life painting beginning in the late 1920s. These works are a continuation of his life-long experimentation with color and form, combining a Fauvist palette with an original sense of perspective and space. Flowers on a Floral Tablecloth epitomizes Manievich's work from this period and shows his adventurous foray into unusual patterning. Pure swirls of color define the flower blossoms, vase and tablecloth, and thus the canvas is brought to life by vibrant pigment and abstracted form.

We would like to thank Alan Pensler and Mimi Ginsberg for providing additional catalogue information. The present lot will be reproduced in their forthcoming monograph on Abraham Manievich to be distributed in the Fall of 2010.