Lot 37
  • 37

ROBERT INDIANA | Lamb chops (Red eye of love - Lamb)

Estimate
100,000 - 150,000 EUR
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Description

  • Robert Indiana
  • Lamb chops (Red eye of love - Lamb) 
  • firmato a stencil sul retro 
  • acrilico su tela applicata su tavola
  • cm 183x183
  • Eseguito nel 1989

Provenance

DJT Fine Art - Dominic J. Taglialatela, New York
Collezione privata, Milano
Ivi acquistato dall'attuale proprietario

Condition

This work is in good overall condition. There are minor traces of dirt with light indentation marks towards the center of the upper, lower and left margins. There is a slight stretcher irregularity in the lower part of the left margin. There are three minor traces of dirt in proximity of the blue letters M and B, and two others towards the grey letters P and S. No traces of retouching appear to be visible under UV light. The unevenness of the refraction is inherent to the artist's working method and choice of media.
"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."

Catalogue Note

L’opera Lamb di Robert Indiana costituisce parte di una serie di sei dipinti dedicati alla scenografia dello spettacolo Red Eye of Love ed è emblematica del lavoro dell’artista, fondato sull’utilizzo di brevi e spesso ambigue composizioni tipografiche. Scritta dal celebre sceneggiatore newyorkese Arnold Weinstein, l’opera teatrale racconta la storia di un curioso triangolo amoroso tra un ricco macellaio, che sogna di aprire un enorme centro commerciale di sola carne su otto piani, un inventore squattrinato e una donna indecisa tra amore e denaro. Lo spettacolo mette in scena le contraddizioni e le vicissitudini della consumistica società americana, un tema altrettanto ricorrente nell’opera di Robert Indiana.
John Wulp era il direttore al tempo della rappresentazione, nonché grande amico di Indiana a seguito dei regolari incontri al Coenties Slip, e fu naturale la commissione all’artista delle scenografie dell’opera, che è tuttora occasionalmente rappresentata a Broadway. Emblematic of Robert Indiana’s work based essentially on typographic representations of short, often double meaning words, Lamb is part of a series of paintings made by the artist for the decor of the play Red Eye of Love. Written by the famous New York playwright Arnold Weinstein, it tells the story of a curious love triangle implicating a rich butcher who dreams of opening a huge department store selling meat on eight floors, a penniless inventor and a woman who finds it difficult to choose between love and money. The play illustrates thus the contradictions and vicissitudes of American consumer society, a recurring theme in Robert Indiana’s work.
At the time the play was created, John Wulp , its director and a close friend of Indiana from the 1950s where they both regularly met at Coenties Slip, naturally thought of the artist for the play’s décor, which is still occasionally shown on Broadway.