- 61
Francis Newton Souza
Estimate
200,000 - 300,000 GBP
bidding is closed
Description
- Francis Newton Souza
- Row of Houses
- Signed and dated 'Souza 57' upper right and further signed, dated and inscribed 'F.N. SOUZA - 1957 / ROW OF HOUSES' on reverse
- Oil on masonite board
- 61 by 122 cm. (24 by 48 in.)
- Painted in 1957
Provenance
Grosvenor Gallery, London
Sotheby's New York, 20 September 2005, lot 193
Acquired from a private collector, Mumbai, 2011
Literature
K. Singh ed., Manifestations VI, Delhi Art Gallery, New Delhi, 2011, p. 183 illus.
Condition
in good overall condition, areas of paint shrinkage particularly apparent in blue ground, minor surface abrasions, varnished, as viewed
"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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
"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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
Catalogue Note
When Francis Newton Souza arrived in London in July 1949, he was astonished by the grimness he encountered as the city was still in decline following the effects of World War II. For the next six years, Souza lived an impoverished existence until 1955 when he received his first one-man show at Gallery One, which sold out to critical acclaim. The present work is typical of the cityscapes he was creating at the time. Following a deceptively simple rectilinear structure with bold black outlines, these paintings do not reveal the distortions characteristic of his later paintings. The artist's expert control of his medium is revealed through his use of colour that suffuses the painting with a wonderful light that resonates even in the darker areas of the work. The painting resembles a stained glass window with brilliant hues that glow as if lit from a hidden source, a reference to his religious upbringing and the work of Georges Rouault. Compositionally they typically followed a ‘linear structure built up of a multitude of right angle lines, the bare trees in the landscape providing the lyrical touch.’(Geeta Kapur, Contemporary Indian Artists, New Delhi, 1978, p. 30).