Important Collection of William G. Congdon Paintings - Rediscovered and Coming to Auction October 4

Beverly Hills, California - September 19, 2017 - Carlyle Galleries International, Inc., (www.carlyle-auctions.com) the premier fine art auctioneers, will be offering an important collection of paintings by William G. Congdon (1912-1998) at auction on October 4, 2017, at 11:00 AM (Pacific time).

The paintings are being offered on the market for the first time in over 50 years. The collection of 13 oil paintings, watercolors, and sketches, were originally gifted by Congdon to fellow artist Letizia Cerio, of Capri, Italy, in the 1950’s, then passed by descent in the Cerio family in Boston and Capri. (It was during Congdon’s stays in Capri during the late 1940’s with the Cerio family (who were the cultural epicenter of the island), that marked the beginning of his painting career.

Most remarkable, the paintings were carefully stored in an archival box, since the 1950’s and are in an excellent state of preservation - with the colors as rich, and vibrant as the day William Congdon first painted them.

William G. Congdon

William Grosvenor Congdon (1912-1998)  was associated with the “New York School” Abstract Expressionists of the late 1940’s and early 1950’s, starting with his first one-man show at the Betty Parsons gallery in 1949. The show was positively reviewed by art critic, Clement Greenberg who was impressed by Congdons use of color to evoke “real painterly emotion”. Congdon showed alongside Clifford Still in 1950, and his association with Betty Parsons gallery lasted over 20 years.

At the peak of his success in the early 1950’s, Congdon, becoming more interested in spirituality, turned his back on “The American Dream”, moving to Venice, Italy. Venice became a source of endless inspiration for Congdon’s paintings which were extensively collected by Peggy Guggenheim.  

“William Congdon is the only painter since Turner, who has understood Venice, its mystery, its poetry and its passion. He has a modern way of expressing himself, but his insight is as old as the city itself. He has been able to gather up the emotional essence of many centuries and has melted this vision into such a fantastic and beautiful dream that his paintings leave one breathless.”

- Peggy Guggenheim 1953

Just as fascinating as the paintings being offered is their trans-Atlantic provenance. The painting in this collection were originally gifted by Congdon to fellow artist Letizia Cerio (1908-1997), of Capri, during the 1950’s. Letizia Cerio, an artist talented in her own right (Graham Greene remarked, “There is only one painter of Capri: Letizia Cerio, in whose paintings there is magic in the air”) often painted alongside Congdon during his travel in Italy. The paintings of Venice were likely given in the traditional artist exchange during these trips.

The Cerio family, one of the oldest and most renowned on Capri, were famous for hosting all the leading figures of the 20th century who came to the island: from Maxim Gorky and Lenin, to Jackie Kennedy Onassis, and Alexander Calder.  

The Cerio family’s branch extended to Newport, Rhode Island and Boston and as a result Letizia formative years were spent in Newport and Boston society. Letizia married Ramiro Alvarez de Toledo, Count of Caltabellotta, and Duke of Bivona,  moving to Argentina as the Second World War began, before finally settling in Concord, Massachusets, with their son, Fernando. Fernando Alvarez de Toledo, who inherited his father’s titles, Duke of Bivona and Count of Caltabellotta, became a protege of Joseph Albers at Yale University, and a leading industrial designer and pioneer of medical device technology with 39 patents, and a career that spanned the globe. The Congdon painting collection, was inherited by Fernando, and after his passing last year, passed by descent to the current consignors.

THE AUCTION

Carlyle’s October 4 auction “European, American & Latin Art” will take place at 11:00AM Los Angeles time, and  offers a curated selection of nearly 200 lots of museum-quality paintings, sculpture, and works on paper. Many of the artworks being offered are from local Los Angeles estates and collections of entertainment industry luminaries.

As always, Carlyle’s auction features an eclectic mix of fine art, including: European, American, Russian, Asian, Latin and Middle Eastern, 19th century, modernist, and Old Master paintings and drawings. Estimates range between $300 and $300,000, offering an opportunity for collectors at all price points.

The auction is online-only, and the full auction catalog is available at www.carlyle-auctions.com Bidding will be available through all three major online auction platforms: BidSquare.com LiveAuctioners.com and The-Saleroom.com.  

ABOUT:

Carlyle Galleries International, Inc. is an online Fine Art Dealer & Auctioneer based in Beverly Hills, California, serving an international collector base in over 42 countries.

Carlyle specializes in the "middle-market"($5,000-$100,000) in: Old Master & 19th Century, Impressionist/Modern and Post-War & Contemporary art.

Carlyle Galleries International, Inc.

9701 Wilshire Boulevard

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Beverly Hills, California

info@carlyle-auctions.com

310-579-9697

http://www.carlyle-auctions.com