John Latham
Single Book as Nature
Estimate: 5.000 - 8.000 GBP
Price realised: 21.250 GBP
Price realised: 21.250 GBP
Description
book, spray paint and plaster on canvas laid on board
9 3/8 x 11 ½ x 6 5/8 in. (24 x 29.3 x 16.8 cm.)
Conceived in 1959.
Sir Denys Lasdun (1914-2001) was an eminent English architect, celebrated for his commitment to Modernist ideals and his contribution to the British urban landscape. Having started his career at Wells Coates’ practice, he would go on to build 32 Newton Road, a house in Paddington which strictly followed Le Corbusier’s domino principle, and would later become Ronald Searle’s residence. Lasdun’s social commitment was demonstrated in commissions for Hallfield Primary School, cluster blocks
Christie’s are delighted to offer works from Sir Denys and Lady Lasdun’s collection across our Modern British, Russian Art and Prints sales taking place in November. Their expertly curated collection pays tribute to the importance art played in the Lasdun family, with many works acquired directly from the artists whom the couple counted as close friends: Mary Fedden, Prunella Clough, Louis le Brocquy, Leonard Rosoman and Stefan Knapp, amongst others. Other works from the collection of Sir De
‘Latham appropriated books - everyday objects - and made them strange by treating them as visual/palpable things rather than as works of literature' (John Walker, John Latham - The incidental person, his art and ideas, Middlesex, 1995, p. 5.)
Born in 1921, John Latham served in the navy during the Second World War and consequently studied fine art at Chelsea School of Art. The chaos and destruction which he witnessed during his experiences in the war can be said to have directly influenced his work of the 1950s and 1960s. Further inspired by scientific theories, he was greatly interested in theories of space involving physics and cosmology. In 1958, books became a crucial material which he would use in his art and Latham would choose
Purchased by Sir Denys and Lady Lasdun at the 1991 exhibition.
9 3/8 x 11 ½ x 6 5/8 in. (24 x 29.3 x 16.8 cm.)
Conceived in 1959.
Sir Denys Lasdun (1914-2001) was an eminent English architect, celebrated for his commitment to Modernist ideals and his contribution to the British urban landscape. Having started his career at Wells Coates’ practice, he would go on to build 32 Newton Road, a house in Paddington which strictly followed Le Corbusier’s domino principle, and would later become Ronald Searle’s residence. Lasdun’s social commitment was demonstrated in commissions for Hallfield Primary School, cluster blocks
Christie’s are delighted to offer works from Sir Denys and Lady Lasdun’s collection across our Modern British, Russian Art and Prints sales taking place in November. Their expertly curated collection pays tribute to the importance art played in the Lasdun family, with many works acquired directly from the artists whom the couple counted as close friends: Mary Fedden, Prunella Clough, Louis le Brocquy, Leonard Rosoman and Stefan Knapp, amongst others. Other works from the collection of Sir De
‘Latham appropriated books - everyday objects - and made them strange by treating them as visual/palpable things rather than as works of literature' (John Walker, John Latham - The incidental person, his art and ideas, Middlesex, 1995, p. 5.)
Born in 1921, John Latham served in the navy during the Second World War and consequently studied fine art at Chelsea School of Art. The chaos and destruction which he witnessed during his experiences in the war can be said to have directly influenced his work of the 1950s and 1960s. Further inspired by scientific theories, he was greatly interested in theories of space involving physics and cosmology. In 1958, books became a crucial material which he would use in his art and Latham would choose
Purchased by Sir Denys and Lady Lasdun at the 1991 exhibition.
Upper estimate price exceeded by more than 100%
This artwork by John Latham achieved an unexpectedly high price at Christies in London in November 2017. In the Modern/British Art Online auction, the work Single Book as Nature sold for GBP 21,250.00 (€ 24,121.91) - well above the upper estimate of GBP 8,000.00. Admittedly, works by John Latham have also been auctioned for a multiple of this price - according to our records, the highest result so far was achieved by the work Triptych 1954 in July 2008 with an auction result of GBP 79,250.00 (€ 100,688.02).
Oberer Schätzpreis um mehr als 100% übertroffen
Dieses Kunstwerk von John Latham erzielte im November 2017 bei Christies in London einen unerwartet hohen Preis. In der Auktion Modern/British Art Online wurde die Arbeit Single Book as Nature für GBP 21.250,00 (€ 24.121,91) versteigert – und damit weit über dem oberen Schätzpreis von GBP 8.000,00. Freilich wurden Arbeiten von John Latham auch schon für ein Vielfaches dieses Preises versteigert – das bisher höchste Ergebnis erzielte nach unseren Aufzeichnungen die Arbeit Triptych 1954 im Juli 2008 mit einem Auktionsergebnis von GBP 79.250,00 (€ 100.688,02).
John Latham - Auction history
Other artists in this auction
