SAM FRANCIS | Study for Chase Mural

Martha Jackson Gallery, New York
David K. Anderson's Trust, Buffalo 
David Anderson Gallery, Buffalo
Maxwell Davidson Gallery, New York (acquired from the above in 1996) 
Acquired from the above by the present owner 

Buffalo, Albright Knox Gallery; Washington D.C., Corcoran Gallery of Art; New York, Whitney Museum of American Art; Dallas Museum of Fine Arts; Oakland Museum of Art, Sam Francis: Paintings 1947 - 1972, September 1972 - July 1973
Buffalo, David Anderson Gallery, Within a Space Grown Wider, July - September 1994
Paris, Galerie nationale du Jeu de Paume, Sam Francis: les années parisiennes 1950-1961, December 1995 - February 1996, pp. 144-45, illustrated in color
San Francisco, Maxwell Davidson Gallery, Important Modern Masters, April - May 1996, pp. 16-17, illustrated in color

Debra Burchett-Lere, Ed. Sam Francis: Online Catalogue Raisonné Project, cat. no. SF59-059; SF59-237, illustrated in color

This work is in very good condition overall. The colors are bright, fresh and clean. The top edge of the sheet is deckled. The sheet has a slight undulation due to the artist's working method and chosen medium and there is a pale time staining to the sheet. Under close inspection, there is light evidence of wear and handling to the edges, including some light skinning to the paper surface at the top right corner and artists pinholes, with some associated tears at each corner. The sheet is hinged verso to the mat intermittently along the edges. Framed under Plexiglas.
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.

"Color is a kind of holy substance for me. It’s the element in painting which I am most fascinated with. It is an element of painting which overcomes me […] Color in a way is a receptacle for a feeling and a way for you to hold it until understanding arrives or meaning is extracted." Sam Francis

This work is identified with the identification number of SF59-059; SF59-237 in the Sam Francis: Online Catalogue Raisonné Project.