Contemporary + Modern: Art & Design
Fri, Jan 28, 2022 01:00AM EST
Lot 45
NICOLAS AFRICANO / Tess (Large 1972 Acrylic)
Sold for
$1,900
Bid Increments
| Price | Bid Increment |
|---|---|
| $0 | $25 |
| $500 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $100 |
| $5,000 | $250 |
| $10,000 | $500 |
| $20,000 | $1,000 |
| $50,000 | $2,500 |
| $75,000 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $10,000 |
Nicolas Africano
(Illinois, b. 1948)
Tess, 1972
Acrylic on chiseled plywood
48" x 72"
A very large work by Africano, signed and dated to the reverse, composed of a glyph-like stick figure retelling of Thomas Hardy's Tess of the d'Urbervilles, including a selection of the significant events which defined that character's troubled life. The lines were laboriously chiseled into the board (Africano's hands were said to be badly blistered from the process) and then painted into. Presented in a frame that measures 53 1/2" x 77 1/2".
Provenance: From the Bill & Ellen Morgan collection. Bill Morgan is a professor emeritus of English at Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois. It was there that he befriended Nicolas Africano, and he quickly became a patron and collector of the Africano's work as well; for a time Morgan rented Africano a room, occasionally accepting artwork in lieu of payment. This far-reaching collection from an early adopter gives a unique opportunity to access rare early works and get an expansive view of the artist during several pivotal moments in his journey.
Alternate spelling: Nicholas Africano
Very good condition, with no issues observed under blacklight inspection.
(Illinois, b. 1948)
Tess, 1972
Acrylic on chiseled plywood
48" x 72"
A very large work by Africano, signed and dated to the reverse, composed of a glyph-like stick figure retelling of Thomas Hardy's Tess of the d'Urbervilles, including a selection of the significant events which defined that character's troubled life. The lines were laboriously chiseled into the board (Africano's hands were said to be badly blistered from the process) and then painted into. Presented in a frame that measures 53 1/2" x 77 1/2".
Provenance: From the Bill & Ellen Morgan collection. Bill Morgan is a professor emeritus of English at Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois. It was there that he befriended Nicolas Africano, and he quickly became a patron and collector of the Africano's work as well; for a time Morgan rented Africano a room, occasionally accepting artwork in lieu of payment. This far-reaching collection from an early adopter gives a unique opportunity to access rare early works and get an expansive view of the artist during several pivotal moments in his journey.
Alternate spelling: Nicholas Africano