November Sales - La Gazette Drouot

On November 17, La Gazette Drouot auctioned six untitled Beauford Delaney oils and gouaches on paper from the collection of Beauford' friend and supporter, art critic Jean Grenier.

Untitled
Lot 57
(1962) Gouache on paper
Signed and dated "March 1962" lower right.
74.5 x 53 cm.; 29.3 x 20.9 in
© Estate of Beauford Delaney
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator

Untitled
Lot 62
(1963) Oil on canvas
Signed, located "Paris," and dated on the back
41 x 33 cm.; 16.1 x 12.9 in
© Estate of Beauford Delaney
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator

Untitled
Lot 63
(1963) Oil on canvas
Signed, located "Paris," and dated on the back
41 x 33 cm.; 16.1 x 12.9 in
© Estate of Beauford Delaney
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator

Untitled
Lot 64
(1964) Gouache on paper
Signed, located "Paris," and dated on the lower right.
66 x 50 cm.; 25.9 x 19.7 in
© Estate of Beauford Delaney
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator

Untitled
Lot 65
(1964) Oil on canvas
Signed, located "Paris," and dated on the back
41 x 33 cm.; 16.1 x 12.9 in
© Estate of Beauford Delaney
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator

Untitled
Lot 67
(1965) Oil on canvas
Signed, located "Paris," dated, and dedicated
"Pour mon ami mr Jean Grenier..." on the back
41 x 27 cm.; 16.1 x 10.6 in
© Estate of Beauford Delaney
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator

According to biographer David A. Leeming, Beauford's friend, M. Bioud, introduced Beauford to Jean Grenier in 1962.  In Amazing Grace: A Life of Beauford Delaney, Leeming states that Grenier wrote a "glowing article" about Beauford that was published in the June (1962) issue of Preuves.

All auctioned works are dated 1962 to 1965, the beginning of Beauford's life in the studio at rue Vercingétorix.  These years were quite productive, and Beauford's work was displayed in multiple group shows in France, the U.S., and Denmark.  His one-man show at the Galerie Lambert was held in 1964.

Sale prices for the works were as follows:

Lot 57:  Estimated: 5,000€ - 7,000€; Sale - did not sell
Lot 62:  Estimated: 10,000€ - 15,000€; Sale - 9,000€ (hammer price - no fees included)
Lot 63:  Estimated:40,000€ - 60,000€; Sale - 36,000€ (hammer price - no fees included)
Lot 64:  Estimated:6,000€ - 8,000€; Sale - did not sell
Lot 65:  Estimated:40,000€ - 60,000€; Sale - 36,000€ (hammer price - no fees included)
Lot 67:  Estimated:30,000€ - 50,000€; Sale - did not sell

A seventh work on paper was attributed to Beauford.

Untitled
Lot 66
(not dated) Gouache on paper pasted in border on cardboard
66 x 47 cm.; 25.9 x 18.5 in
© Estate of Beauford Delaney
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator

Its estimated sale price was 1,000€ - 1,500€.

It did not sell.

November Sales

On November 10, Christie's auctioned Garden Abstraction during its Post-War and Contemporary Art Day Sale.

Garden Abstraction
Lot 126
(1963) Gouache on paper
signed, inscribed and dated 'Beauford Delaney July 28, 1963 Paris' (lower left);
signed again 'Beauford Delaney' (on the reverse)
30 x 22 ¼ in. (76.2 x 56.6 cm.)
© Estate of Beauford Delaney
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator

The estimated sale price for the work was $40,000 - $60,000. 

It sold for $69,300, including a 26% buyer's premium.

On November 15, Phillips auctioned Wine during its 20th Century and Contemporary Art Day sale.

Wine
Lot 171
(1962) Gouache on paper
Signed, inscribed and dated "Beauford Delaney Paris 1962" lower right;
Stamped by the Estate of Beauford Delaney on the reverse
29 3/8 x 21 1/4 in. (74.6 x 54 cm)
© Estate of Beauford Delaney
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator

Its estimated sale price was $40,000 - $60,000.

It sold for $40,640, including a 27% buyer's premium.

On November 16, Sotheby's auctioned Untitled during its Contemporary Day Auction.

Untitled
Lot 202
(1955) Oil on canvas
signed and dated 1955 (lower left); inscribed (on the reverse)
64 by 29 in. (162.6 by 73.7 cm.)
© Estate of Beauford Delaney
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator

Its estimated sale price was $120,000 - $180,000.

It sold for $177,840, including a 26% buyer's premium.

Stay tuned for a future post where I will present the results of The Gazette Drouot sale that took place on November 17.

 

Tin Roof Blues

One hundred years ago this autumn, Beauford moved from Knoxville to Boston.

Thanks to money and letters of introduction received from White painter Lloyd Branson as well as letters of introduction from prominent Black men in his Knoxville community, he was able to settle into a life that combined professional art instruction, a window into sociopolitical and cultural "high society," and a growing recognition of how he was emotionally and sexually "different." 

According to biographer David Leeming, Beauford spent a great deal of time alone listening to records on a windup Victrola in his boardinghouse room during this period. "Tin Roof Blues" by the New Orleans Rhythm Kings was his favorite song.  Leeming describes how the lyrics of the song, which praise a tin roof café in New Orleans, "fed a lingering homesickness for the South, but somehow also lifted his [Beauford's] spirits."

He said that Beauford loved singing this tune.

Tin Roof Blues sheet music cover
Image in public domain

Interestingly, I have been only been able to find instrumental recordings of this 1923 song.

Tin Roof Blues - label for original recording
Image in public domain

I found a Website that presents lyrics for the song by Walter Melrose (whose company published the sheet music), but the audio file embedded in the Website does not include singing:  Tin Roof Blues

To get an idea of how the song sounds when lyrics accompany the music, click HERE.

Click on the embedded video below to listen to the original instrumental recording by the New Orleans Rhythm Kings.

Upcoming Sales

Several Beauford Delaney abstract works are being offered for sale during November 2023.

On November 9, Christie's is auctioning Garden Abstraction during its Post-War and Contemporary Art Day Sale.

Garden Abstraction
(1963) Gouache on paper
signed, inscribed and dated 'Beauford Delaney July 28, 1963 Paris' (lower left);
signed again 'Beauford Delaney' (on the reverse)
30 x 22 ¼ in. (76.2 x 56.6 cm.)
© Estate of Beauford Delaney
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator

Garden Abstraction - signature and date at lower left

The assigned lot number for this work is 126. Its estimated sale price is $40,000 - $60,000.

On November 15, Phillips is auctioning Wine during its 20th Century and Contemporary Art Day sale.

Wine

(1962) Gouache on paper

signed, inscribed and dated "Beauford Delaney Paris 1962" lower right;
stamped by the Estate of Beauford Delaney on the reverse
29 3/8 x 21 1/4 in. (74.6 x 54 cm)

 © Estate of Beauford Delaney
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator

 

Untitled - signature and date at lower right
 

 

The assigned lot number for this work is 171. Its estimated sale price is $40,000 - $60,000.

On November 16, Sotheby's is auctioning Untitled during its Contemporary Day Auction.

Untitled
(1955) Oil on canvas
signed and dated 1955 (lower left); inscribed (on the reverse)
64 by 29 in. (162.6 by 73.7 cm.)
© Estate of Beauford Delaney
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator

Untitled - signature and date at lower left

The assigned lot number for this work is 202. Its estimated sale price is $120,000 - $180,000.

On November 17, La Gazette Drouot is auctioning six untitled Beauford Delaney oils and gouaches on paper from the collection of Beauford' friend and supporter, art critic Jean Grenier.

The lot numbers assigned are 57 (gouache on paper), 62 (oil on canvas), 63 (oil on canvas), 64 (gouache on paper), 65 (oil on canvas), and 67 (oil on canvas). Estimated sale prices range from 10,000€ - 60,000€ for the oils and 5,000€ to 8,000€ for the works on paper. 

Corners of four oil paintings up for auction at La Gazette Drouot
© Estate of Beauford Delaney
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator

Untitled (Lot 57) (1962) Gouache on paper. Signed and dated "March 1962" lower right. 74.5 x 53 cm.
© Estate of Beauford Delaney
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator

Untitled (Lot 64) (1964) Gouache on paper Signed, located "Paris" and dated lower right
© Estate of Beauford Delaney
by permission of Derek L. Spratley, Esquire,
Court Appointed Administrator

A seventh work on paper, Lot 66 (gouache on paper pasted in border on cardboard), is attributed to Beauford. It is valued at 1,000€ - 1,500€.

For more information, visit the auction house Websites: 

Christie's

Phillips 

Sotheby's

La Gazette Drouot

Note: The still life that Swann Auction Galleries put up for auction during its October 19 African American Art Sale went unsold.