Two Beauford Delaney Works at Swann Auction Galleries' African Art Sale

Swann Auction Galleries' upcoming African American Art Sale is being held on April 22, 2021. Two Beauford Delaney paintings are now available for purchase.

Untitled (African Figure) was created when Beauford lived at his rue Vercingétorix studio. It comes from the original collection of James and Gloria Joyce, whom James Baldwin introduced to Beauford in July 1958. The Joyces would go on to commission several paintings from Beauford, including a portrait of James Joyce.

Untitled (African Figure)
(1968) Oil on cotton canvas
610x502 mm; 24x19 3/4 inches
Signed and dated in oil, lower left
Image courtesy of Swann Auction Galleries
© Estate of Beauford Delaney
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator

The estimated sale price of this work, which has been assigned Lot Number 67, is $120,000 - $180,000. 

The mirror image of Untitled (African Figure), a multi-hued oil monoprint on paper, was displayed by the Knoxville Museum of Art during its Through the Unusual Door exhibition in 2020.

Untitled (African Figure)
(circa 1968) Oil monoprint on paper
Knoxville Museum of Art, 2018 Beauford Delaney Purchase
© Estate of Beauford Delaney
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator
Photo © Les Amis de Beauford Delaney

 

The other Beauford Delaney work being auctioned in April is a pastel on paper, dated 1951. Assigned Lot No. 101, its estimated sale price is $30,000 to $40,000. 

 

See an image of it here: Untitled (Tent Interior) 

 

The description of this work in Swann's online catalog indicates that Beauford's pastels are seldom seen at auction. 

For more information about the April 22, 2021 African American Art auction, click HERE.