Goldberg Coins and Collectibles

Sale 73

The Manuscript, Space & Collectibles Auction

Artists & Architects

Lot	Photo	Description	Realized
Lot 146		Wright, Frank Lloyd - Guggenheim Archive (1867-1959) American architect, considered by many to be the greatest American architect of all time. An archive pertaining to the Guggenheim Museum, which may be Wright's most recognized masterpiece. Wright was commissioned in 1943 to design a building to house Solomon R. Guggenheim's "non-objective" paintings. Construction did not begin until 1956, due to numerous delays, including modifications to the original design, increased costs of building materials after World War II, and the death of Solomon R. Guggenheim in 1949. The project was not finished until 1959; it opened six months after Wright's death, on October 21, 1959. Wright's frustration at continuing delays and changes is evident in this letter, which he sent to the trustees in 1958. Typed letter signed, on Taliesin letterhead, 1 page, 8½ x 11 in., Spring Green, Wisconsin, June 23, 1958, addressed "To the Trustees of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation." The envelope has "to Mr. Michael Wettach" typed on the flap; Wettach (1932-1999) was one of the Guggenheim trustees and a grandson of Solomon R. Guggenheim. In part: "Concerning the Memorial Museum, now partly built, designed by myself for Solomon R. Guggenheim as attested by a score of detailed working plans and drawings each one signed by him and later verified by Lord Castle Stewart as changed to suit the extension of the site: In the circumstances now existing that seem to me to threaten the integrity of the whole concept, I feel that the least I can do is to acquaint you - his trustees - with the nature and the purpose of that original design by these photostats of the originals. Having done this, I shall have done my best to preserve what Solomon R. Guggenheim himself approved and left provision to build as his memorial. Faithfully, Frank Lloyd Wright." The envelope holding this letter is affixed to the cover of a 17½ x 11½ in. portfolio, which contains photostats of Wright's original drawings of the museum: the exterior and each level--Ground through Fifth; a typed note with typed initials "F.Ll.W." is affixed at lower right of the Fifth Level Plan, "This top floor of the Museum is the climax in spacious dignity of the entire building. Here the great character of the design is made manifest." The portfolio also has photostats of the rooms which would hold "The Masterpiece," "Middle of the Road," and "Average Sculpture & Paintng," as well as a "Section through Monitor" showing how the basement through the third levels would look from the outside. At the front of the portfolio is a seven-page description of Wright's concept of the Guggenheim, which he calls "An Experiment in the Third-Dimension"; he initialed "F.Ll W" on page 7, which is datelined Taliesin, June, 1958. A brief quote from page 4: "A great memorial building should thus prove to be matchless in complete unity between human-nature, picture and environment. These new arrangements are designed in conscious deference to the depth-plane of the Third-dimension as practical in modern organic-architecture." At the back of the portfolio are three pages titled "Concerning White White-Wash," giving Wright's preference for ivory over dead white, "which would be like a symphony lost against the blast of automobile horns." Page 3 is initialed "FLLW" and datelined Taliesin, June 1958. Some light toning; otherwise, the archive is in fine condition. From the estate of Guggenheim trustee Michael Wettach. Estimated Value $5,000-UP View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 147		American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters - Program Signed by 14 Members, A 1987 ceremonial program signed on the cover by the following artists, authors, and musicians: Robert Motherwell, Jasper Johns, Helen Frankenthaler, Cy Twombly, Richard Purdy, Shirley Smith, Milton Babbitt, Arthur Schlesinger, Jr. John Updike, William Jay Smith, Elizabeth Hardwick, Edward Barnes, John Ashberry, and Stanley Kunitz. All signed in either red or blue ink. Estimated Value $200 - 400 View details and enlarged photo	Realized $1,046
Lot 148		[Comic Art] Chester Gould, Chic Young, Gus Edson, Fontaine Fox, George Sixta, and Blossom, Cartoon items signed for Bruce Newton, an early Chicago television personality and puppeteer: (1) Sketch of Dick Tracy Inscribed and Signed, "To Bruce With Best Wishes Chester Gould," 5" x 3", in pencil, no place, no date. (2) Sketch of the Bumstead family Inscribed and Signed, "To Bruce Newton….With all good wishes from the Bumsteads and Chic Young," 5½ x 4¼", Hollywood, 9-21-1944; with envelope addressed to Newton. (3) Sketch of "Dondi" Inscribed and Signed, "To Bruce Newton With Best Regards! Gus Edson," 5" x 3", in pencil, no place, no date. (4) Sketch of the Trolley Skipper character from the comic strip "Toonerville Trolley" Signed "Fontaine Fox," 3" x 5". The sketch has only minor soiling. An accompanying letter (in poor condition) on "Toonerville Electric Railroad Company" letterhead is dated 30 Sept. 1944. (5) Panel from the comic strip "Rivets" Signed "Sixta" in the panel and inscribed and signed, "To Bruce Newton -- with Best Wishes -- George Sixta," 5�" x 17½". The panel is dated 8-23, 1954. Very good; one fold. (6) and Sketch Signed "Blossom," 5" x 3"; fine except for crease at lower left corner. Estimated Value $400 - 600 View details and enlarged photo	Realized $234
Lot 149		Pisarro, Camille (1830-1903) Danish-French Impressionist and Neo-Impressionist painter; the only artist to exhibit at all eight Paris Impressionist exhibitions, from 1874 to 1886. Autograph letter signed ("C. Pissarro"), 1 page, in French, 4½ x 7 in., Eragny-Barincourt, 4 May 1898. To another founder of Impressionism, fellow artist Claude Monet: "My dear Monet - I learned from Durand that you're planning on having an exhibition this month at George Petit's gallery; it would be very nice of you to let me know the opening date, since I'll have to leave here at a moment's notice, I would be very sorry to miss this opportunity to go and see your works. My exhibition will take place around the middle of June at Durand's gallery. I hope, my dear friend, that you will have good reason to be satisfied with your work and that you will show us works worthy of your Cathedrals. Friendly regards to Madame Monet. Your old comrade C. Pissarro." In a postscript, he writes, "And how are Jean and his wife? Give me his address in Rouen." Eighteen of the pictures from Monet's series "Morning on the Seine" (begun in 1896 and completed in 1897) were shown at the Galerie Georges Petit in 1898. It is to this exhibition--certainly worthy of Monet's Cathedrals-- that Pissarro refers. Art dealer Paul Durand-Rue (1831-1922) was the most important art dealer of French Impressionism. He provided both moral and financial support for the artists, purchasing and promoting their pictures. Estimated Value $10,000 - 15,000 View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 150		Rockwell, Norman (1894-1978) American painter and illustration best known for his depictions of small-town America, many of which graced the covers of The Saturday Evening Post. Typed letter signed, on personal letterhead, 1 page, 5 x 5¾ in., Stockbridge, Mass., 21 Dec. 1971. Sending seasons greetings to a friend after convalescing from the flu in the Bahamas. Matted with an image of Rockwell and framed to an overall size of 14¼ x 20¼ in. Estimated Value $150 - 200 View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 151		Sargent, John Singer (1856-1925) American portrait artist who trained and lived most of his life in Europe. Autograph letter signed ("John S. Sargent") on letterhead printed 31 Tite Street, Chelsea. S.W., n.d. Writing about a work in progress. In part: "I am so sorry you did not get my answer to your telegram to say that I couldn't be in but that if you called the picture could be shown you….My man tells me you like the background--and want the picture sent home….Have just telephoned…& find that you are away--I told the woman to expect the pictures tomorrow. I hope you really do think it is improved--I do." Estimated Value $700 - 900 View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 152		Vatican Watercolors - 19th Century Costumes of the Pontifical Court, A charming vintage Vatican souvenir with 30 brightly-colored plates of the costumes of Vatican court officials, including bishops (Roman, Greek, Armenian, Syrian), the Swiss Guard, the Pope, etc., each 3 x 4¼ in. with Italian captions, joined together accordian style in a Leporello binding. Pencil notation on inside front cover: "Bought from the Vatican in Rome in 1854. Georgie Parker." Estimated Value $175 - 275 View details and enlarged photo	Realized $105
Lot 153		Wright, Frank Lloyd (1867-1952) (1867-1959) American architect; leading designer of modern private dwellings; his larger works include the Guggenheim Museum of Art in New York City and the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo. Photo from a publication ("The Natural House" is on verso) signed in the top border with a fountain pen in blue ink, n.p., n.d. A bust-length image of an older, smiling Wright. Estimated Value $400 - 600 View details and enlarged photo	Realized $576