ANTONIO SAURA | Grand Curé II

Galerie Pierre Matisse, New York
Estate of Pierre Matisse, New York
Collection Rodolphe Stadler, Paris
Estate of Stephano Polastri, Milan
Natalie Seroussi, Paris

New York, Jason McCoy Inc., Antonio Saura / Paintings from the sixties, 5 November - 14 December 1991
Lugano, Museo d'Arte Moderna della Citta di Lugano, Antonio Saura, 4 septembre - 6 novembre 1994; catalogue, no. 22 (illustrated)
Malmö, Konsthall, Antonio Saura, 12 September - 9 November 1997
Toulouse, Les Abattoirs, Une Annee Saura, 30 June - 14 September 2008

The colours are fairly accurate in the printed catalogue illustration although the overall tonality is deeper in the original work.The canvas is slightly loose. There are minor cracks visible under close inspection only and scattered throughout the work, most notably in the black paint. Stabilised cracks are visible on the thickest impasto's mainly located in the center of the composition and some of which fluoresce under Ultra Violet Light inspection. 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."

Paint what exists behind objects.
Paint the space where lost thoughts sleep.
Paint great silence.
Paint suffering. Antonio Saura

Belonging to one of Antonio Saura's most iconic themes alongside his Cruxifictions, Grand Cure II (Large Priest) was executed
at a turning point in the painter's artistic career. He founded the vanguard group El Paso in 1957 in the wake of violent student
demonstrations which had just taken place in Madrid, and led it until its dissolution in 1960. Although the group's purported
ambition was to develop a new pictorial language within the context of the European avant-garde, and had been likened to other
expressionist movements of its time - such as the AbEx in America and Art Informel in France - Saura's strongest influence
came from the Spanish Old Masters he so admired during his childhood. The present work's religious subject and awe-inspiring
scale testify of Saura's allegiance to tradition, whilst the gestural brushwork and spontaneous technique are resolutely modern:
"With Saura, the image is distinct, clearly stated, centered, framed. The only violence comes from the frenzy of brushstrokes
that set the proportions flying, that cut into the flesh, that bring the viscera up to the surface." (Guy Scarpetta, in Antonio Saura
(exh. cat.), Museo d'Arte Moderna della Città di Lugano, Lugano, 1994, p. 44)

© Succession Antonio Saura / www.antoniosaura.org / A+V Agencia de Creadores Visuales 2018.



This work is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity established by the Fondation Archives Antonio Saura.