GASTONE NOVELLI | Nel cieco spazio

Marlborough Gallery, New York
Galleria Marlborough, Roma
Ivi acquistato dall'attuale proprietario negli anni Settanta

New York, The Alan Gallery, Gastone Novelli. Paintings & Sculptures, 1965, n. 14 ("In obscure place", acrilico)
Copenaghen, Court Gallery, Novelli. Oils & Gouaches, 1966
Francavilla al Mare, XXI Premio nazionale di pittura F. P. Michetti, 1967, p. n.n., illustrato
Mantova, Palazzo Ducale-Appartamenti La Rustica Estivale, Paesaggio & paesaggio. Il paesaggio visto dagli anni '80, 1985, p. 55, illustrato (nel cielo blu [sic], Mantova, collezione privata)
Verona, Studio La Città; Roma, Studio d'Arte Giuliana De Crescenzo, 20 anni fa. 1968. Colla... Novelli... Pistoletto, 1988, p. n.n., illustrato (matita e olio)

Nello Ponente, La vie est de bruler des questions, in "Il Margutta", Roma, n. 3, marzo 1972, p. 4, illustrato (tempera)
Memorie: Gastone Novelli, in "Terzo Occhio", n. 1, Bologna, gennaio 1975, p. 21, illustrato
Zeno Birolli, Novelli, Milano 1976, pp. 166 (illustrato un particolare), 235, n. 356, illustrato (Roma)
De Candia, Venti anni fa, in "Trovaroma", suppl. a "La Repubblica-Roma", Roma, novembre 1988, p. 53, illustrato
C. Bertelli, Come si scrive Novelli? Where was I born, in "Gastone Novelli", catalogo della mostra, Roma, Galleria Il Segno, 1999, p. 5
Paola Bonani, Marco Rinaldi, Alessandra Tiddia, Gastone Novelli. Catalogo generale vol. I, Pittura e scultura, Milano 2011, p. 287, n. P/1964/26, illustrato

Overall, this work appears to be in good condition. The canvas is slightly wavy towards the upper left, where there is a shallow pressure mark as well. There are a few minor and stable craquelures towards the upper and lower left corners. There are a scratch towards the centre of the left margin and two tiny losses towards the centre of the right edge. There are a couple of pin-pointed dirt marks towards the lower left and one yellowish stain visible in the catalogue illustration along the lower left edge. No traces of retouching appear to be visible under UV light.
"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."

“I segni sono concreti quanto le immagini, le lettere quanto le parole, ma hanno un loro potere per cui anche essendo relativi solo a se stessi, possono fare le veci di qualche cosa d’altro. Per questo motivo mi interessa procedere dai segni e dalle lettere e non dalle immagini o dalle parole.”
Gastone Novelli in Grammatica, maggio 1976

“Signs are as concrete as images, letters as much as words, but they have a power for which even being related only to themselves, they can take the place of something else. For this reason I am interested in proceeding from signs and letters and not from images or words.”