Muhammad Ali
Let My People Go, 1978
Found at
Bonhams,
New York
TCM Presents ... It's a Knockout!, Lot 53
5. Oct - 5. Oct 2021
TCM Presents ... It's a Knockout!, Lot 53
5. Oct - 5. Oct 2021
Estimate: XX.XXX
Price realised: XX.XXX
Price realised: XX.XXX
Description
Let My People Go, 1978
Felt pen on paper
Signed lower left "Muhammad Ali" and dated "12-19-79"
Framed; with a color photograph of Ali and Rodney Hilton Brown with this artwork at the United Nations, April 13, 1979, framed
This painting is Muhammad Ali's original painting that was unveiled at the United Nations, April 13, 1979 for the United Nations Special Committee Against Apartheid. Ali hoped to use his artwork to speak out against Apartheid in Namibia and South Africa. In presenting his painting, Ali read a poem: Spread the word around the world, Tell both friend and foe, I'm fighting for freedom for South Africa, So, Let my people go. Ali's painting was made in to a set of limited edition serigraphs and first day cover to be sold by the World Federation of United Nations Associations. The original painting, showing a white man whipping a black man was considered too politically inflammatory and the white
Exhibited: United Nations, New York, 1979.
Provenance: From the Collection of Rodney Hilton Brown, formerly President of Hilton Fine Arts, Ltd., publisher of Muhammad Ali's limited edition silkscreen prints, 1978.
Literature: BROWN, Rodney Hilton, Muhammad Ali: The Untold Story: Painter, Poet & Prophet, Fairhaven, MA: The War Museum Press, 2021, p. 134 (illus.)
Frame: 17 1/2 x 14 1/2 in.
Felt pen on paper
Signed lower left "Muhammad Ali" and dated "12-19-79"
Framed; with a color photograph of Ali and Rodney Hilton Brown with this artwork at the United Nations, April 13, 1979, framed
This painting is Muhammad Ali's original painting that was unveiled at the United Nations, April 13, 1979 for the United Nations Special Committee Against Apartheid. Ali hoped to use his artwork to speak out against Apartheid in Namibia and South Africa. In presenting his painting, Ali read a poem: Spread the word around the world, Tell both friend and foe, I'm fighting for freedom for South Africa, So, Let my people go. Ali's painting was made in to a set of limited edition serigraphs and first day cover to be sold by the World Federation of United Nations Associations. The original painting, showing a white man whipping a black man was considered too politically inflammatory and the white
Exhibited: United Nations, New York, 1979.
Provenance: From the Collection of Rodney Hilton Brown, formerly President of Hilton Fine Arts, Ltd., publisher of Muhammad Ali's limited edition silkscreen prints, 1978.
Literature: BROWN, Rodney Hilton, Muhammad Ali: The Untold Story: Painter, Poet & Prophet, Fairhaven, MA: The War Museum Press, 2021, p. 134 (illus.)
Frame: 17 1/2 x 14 1/2 in.
Upper estimated price slightly exceeded
In October 2021 Bonhams in New York held the auction TCM Presents ... It's a Knockout!, which included the work Let My People Go, 1978 by Muhammad Ali. The »bidding war« ended at USD 72,812.50 (€ 63,030.21), 21% above the upper estimate. Admittedly, works by Muhammad Ali have also been auctioned for a multiple of this price - according to our records, the highest result so far was achieved by the work Sting Like A Bee, 1978 in October 2021 with an auction result of USD 425,312.50 (€ 368,172.18).
Oberer Schätzpreis leicht übertroffen
Im Oktober 2021 führte Bonhams in New York die Auktion TCM Presents ... It's a Knockout! durch, in der auch die Arbeit Let My People Go, 1978 von Muhammad Ali zur Versteigerung kam. Das »Bietergefecht« endete beim Preis von USD 72.812,50 (€ 63.030,21) und damit 21% über dem oberen Schätzpreis. Freilich wurden Arbeiten von Muhammad Ali auch schon für ein Vielfaches dieses Preises versteigert – das bisher höchste Ergebnis erzielte nach unseren Aufzeichnungen die Arbeit Sting Like A Bee, 1978 im Oktober 2021 mit einem Auktionsergebnis von USD 425.312,50 (€ 368.172,18).
Muhammad Ali - Auction history
