Charles Bell

Louis K. Meisel Gallery, New York
Acquired by the present owner from the above in March 2003

Rome, Chiostro del Bramante, Iperrealisti, April - July 2003

Louis K. Meisel, Photorealism at the Millennium, New York, 2002, pl. 115, p. 53, illustrated in color
John Wilmerding, Richard Estes, New York, 2006, p. 17, illustrated in color

This work is in good condition overall. The colors are bright, fresh and clean. There is a light varnish over the whole canvas, likely applied by the artist at the time of execution. There is evidence of light wear and handling along the edges. Under very close inspection there is a small and unobtrusive chip on the top edge 19¼ inches from the right side, and a small inches stretcher indentation at the top edge 24 from the left edge. There is an extremely faint horizontal scratch at the center of the lower edge and an extremely faint abrasion at the lower edge 34¼ inches from the left edge. In the center of the 10 When Lit red element on the left side, there is an inconsistency to the paint surface which may be the result of a studio correction. Under Ultraviolet light inspection the aforementioned varnish fluoresces lightly, but there is no evidence of restoration. Framed.
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.

"The lens is the premier idiom in this century for communicating visually. The lens-eye view of the world (which is different from the way we see the world with our own binocular vision) pervades our everyday lives. If my aim is to communicate using representational imagery, I can communicate it more persuasively by utilizing the peculiarities of the lens. I've had the progressive realization that the experience of reality is subjective. My paintings look real, but it's a subjective 'reality.' In a painting, we intuit a sense of time because of the time it took to make it, and with that knowledge we find ourselves drawn into the painting, more inclined to study it and return to it."
Charles Bell