The decisive frontrunner of the 120 lots of Latin American art and antiques that were on the block December 12 at Morton Kuehnert Auctioneers & Appraisers was Rafael Coronel’s “De Paseo,” an oil on canvas that attained a winning bid of $50,400. The majority of the lots came from a private collection in South Texas.
“Morton Kuehnert is pleased with the results from our first serious Latin American art auction,” said Lindsay Davis, the auction house’s fine art specialist. The interest in the early religious art, as well as pieces from strong Twentieth Century artists will help the firm chart a path for its Latin American art auctions scheduled for next May and November, she added.
Morton Kuehnert and partner Morton Subastas in Mexico City are combining resources for the enrichment of Latin American art and artists, as Houston continues to garner national attention with the Museum of Fine Arts/Houston emphasis in that area.
Bidders’ choices included Eighteenth and Nineteenth Century religious paintings in the style of the Mexican School, such as the “Virgin of Guadalupe,” an oil on canvas that sold for $7,200, and the “Virgin of Guadalupe,” an oil on burlap that went out at $3,300. “Nino Muerto,” an oil on canvas, which sold for $9,000, was also of the Mexican School.
The auction started off well with the first lot across the block, Elena Climent’s 2006 “Shelf with St. Anthony and His Visions,” which realized $6,600.
Other highlights included an untitled 1948 Diego Rivera pastel and ink on paper of a young boy for $36,000, C. Anton Goering’s 1880 “Venezuelan Scene” watercolor on heavy paper at $7,800 and Guillermo Gomez Mayorga’s circa 1930’s untitled oil on canvas of a view through a Mexico City gateway, took $10,800.
The oil on canvas of the “Enthroned Madonna and Child,” also from the Mexican School of religious paintings, sold for $4,800.
A circa Seventeenth⁅ighteenth Century religious oil on panel portrait from the Spanish Colonial School depicting “Saint Nicolas de Tolentino” sold for $4,200 while an Eighteenth Century oil on canvas from the Peruvian School/Lima Academy entitled “Santa Rosa de Lima” brought $4,800.
A MidCentury landscape of mixed media on paper entitled “Patzcuro, Michoan Coast” 1965, by Alfredo Zalce, sold for $3,600 and A. Orellana’s 1890 “Pueblan Family” oil painting on board fetched the same price.
Three oils on canvas by Twentieth Century Mexican artist Alberto Ruiz Vela were sold, including a cowboy herding scene, at $1,320; two town scenes at $1,140 and $1,320. Pablo Almela, another Twentieth Century Mexican artist, was represented with an oil on canvas, “Guanajuaro” 1947, at $1,200.
Two oils on board by Sergio Bustamante (Mexican, b 1942) sold: “Lions on a Rainbow took $660 and “Lions in a Tree” sold for $1,140.
Two Jaimes Murillo (Mexican, b 1940) paintings sold, including an oil and sand on Masonite entitled “El Peluquero” 1983, bringing $360 and an oil on canvas of an “African Fertility Female,” 1997, for $1,800.
A Nineteenth Century handpainted marriage cupboard, fetched $18,000 and a Bolivian silver censer, achieved $1,440.
All prices reported include the buyer’s premium. For more information, www.mortonkuehnert.com or 713-827-7835.
