Sam Francis

Estate of the artist, California
Jonathan Novak Contemporary Art, Los Angeles
Acquired by the present owner from the above in December 2000

New York, André Emmerich Gallery, Inc., Sam Francis, October - November 1969

Exh. Cat., Washington, D.C., Corcoran Gallery of Art, Thirty-Second Biennial Exhibition of Contemporary American Painting, February - April 1971, p. 15, illustrated

This work is in very good condition overall. The canvas is unlined. There is some very light wear at the turning edges and extreme corners. There are some very fine hairline cracks in the pigment at the extreme turning edges. Under Ultraviolet light there is no evidence of restoration. Unframed.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

"Sam Francis' paintings tell and enact a different version of Genesis. God did not create by lines. He created line so that what He saw, which was already there - abyss, the formless waters, chaos, the multifaceted oneness before the beginning - could be seen."

(Peter Schneider, Sam Francis, Gagosian Gallery, Los Angeles, 1996)