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Three sculptures by Harry Bertoia are in the sale including this one.

 

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Francis Newtown Souza, untitled — Head, 1960s ($50/80,000).

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MODERN, CONTEMPORARY ART WILL BE AT FREEMAN’S MAY 18 2 CUTS

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PHILADELPHIA, PENN. — Freeman’s will present a sale of Modern and contemporary art on May 18. Nearly 200 lots will comprise paintings, prints and sculpture from popular American modernists to sought-after international artists.

The assortment of art spans from late Nineteenth Century drawings by Camille Pissarro to a collection of photographs by various artists such as Joel-Peter Witkin and Robert Mapplethorpe.

The sale begins with a large collection of Pierre-Auguste Renoir prints ($800–$1,200 to $12/18,000) and also includes work by Lynn Chadwick, Marc Chagall, David Hockney and Pablo Picasso. On the international front, Indian art is represented with work by Jamini Roy, Sakti Burman and a collection of drawings and paintings by Francis Newton Souza.

Souza’s work has seen a dramatic upsurge in interest due in part to that country’s booming economy. The oil on canvas, untitled (“Head”), is an example of his work from 1960 ($50/80,000) and another oil, done the year before his death, depicts the artist’s response to the September 11 tragedy ($25/40,000), according to catalog notes written by the artist’s daughter.

Another artist whose work is rarely seen at auction is Aleksandr Yakovlevich Golovin, a Russian painter ($15/25,000).

American offerings include two Andy Warhol books from a consignor in Brooklyn, N.Y., formerly an art director with a pharmaceutical company who knew the artist. She watched as Warhol signed the cover of In The Bottom of My Garden and dedicated it to her. An original Warhol drawing of the German mystic and writer Hermann Hesse will cross the block. Coincidentally Freeman’s book department will feature a first edition copy of Hesse’s Der Steppenwolf, in its May 29 sale.

Steve Wheeler, whose works rarely appear at auction, is represented by two paintings. He was a prominent member of a group known as the Indian Space Painters inspired by Native American imagery and mythology.

Also featured are three sculptures by Harry Bertoia (from $15/25,000 to $40/60,000), powerful examples of his bush form and gong creations.

A collection of screen prints ($5/7,000 to $20/30,000) by Tom Wesselmann will be offered. Other artists such as Alexander Calder, Christo, Alex Katz and Robert Motherwell also have work represented.

Samuel T. Freeman & Co. is at 1808 Chestnut Street. For information, 215-563-9275 or www.freemansauction.com.