Stern Painting to re-emerge at last

May 6, 2011   [ Archived ]

Madden Cole - Business Day

Irma Stern's The Cellist, a remarkable painting that has been hidden from public view for more than 40 years, will be on offer at Strauss & Company's auction at the Country Club Johannesburg on May 16.

The painting has an estimated price of R7m to R10m. On offer, too, are Ms Stern’s A Still Life of a Blue Jar with Oranges and Limes (R2,5m-R3,5m), painted in 1939, and Still Life of Blossoms (R2m-R3m).

Strauss’s Bina Genovese says: “JH Pierneef’s A Mountain Gorge with a River Running Through It (R4m-R6m), painted in 1928, is a key work in the artist’s oeuvre, clearly revealing the influence of the Impressionists’ and Post-Impressionists’ colour palette and treatment of light effects on his early paintings, while Golden Gate (R5m-R7m), an impressive example of his mature work, demonstrates how he forged a unique South African style that continues to capture the imagination of art lovers.

“Pieter Wenning, a grossly underrated artist in the opinion of Stephan Welz, is exciting interest amongst art collectors, with his At Claremont, CP, having sold for R1,78m at Strauss’s sale in March,” Ms Genovese says. “Landscape Bishop’s Court (R500 000-R800 000), painted when Mr Wenning was in Cape Town in 1916, and Clouds, Pretoria (R600 000-R900 000), painted in 1918, will have great appeal to all who are interested in this artist’s work.”

Maurice van Essche’s Fisherman and Women I (R600 000-R900 000), portraying heroic figures ennobled by their labour, is one of his most impressive paintings to come to auction in a while, says Ms Genovese.

“George Pemba’s Portrait of a Young Man (R400 000-R500 000) embodies the poignant humanity of his best paintings, making Mr Pemba the celebrated artist that he is today,” she says. The work is regarded as “one of his most exciting paintings to come to market in recent years”.

Other works of note include Cecil Skotnes’s Four Figures (R350 000-R500 000); Edoardo Villa’s steel Sentinel (R800 000-R1,2m); Robert Hodgins’s A Seated Figure, Red Room (R150 000-R200 000) and Karel Nel’s Convergence, House of the Initiate (R350 000-R500 000).

“The highlights are undoubtedly Stern’s The Cellist, the two Pierneefs and a good Anton van Wouw that was cast in the Nisini foundry. Key works by Alexis Preller, Edoardo Villa and Cecil Skotnes should attract interest. The sale features examples of Gregoire Boonzaier’s Cape urban scenes and works by Piet van Heerden and Alexander Rose-Innes,” Ms Genovese says.

Artists rarely seen at auction include Eugene Labuschagne and Georgina Ormiston, says Strauss MD Stephan Welz. “The South African art market has in recent years ridden on the back of Stern but one senses collectors are becoming aware of the good value presently to be had with artists who have somehow fallen out of the limelight due to all the attention and publicity being given to her. The market can certainly be described as being out of balance as far as prices are concerned and an adjustment is long overdue. Perhaps this sale will start reflecting this trend.”