AUCTION 333 – Photographs from important european collections

RON GALELLA (New York, 1931 - Montville, New Jersey, 2022)
Jackie Kennedy with son John Jr. Central Park NYC, 24 September 1969


(Triptych), 3 Vintage gelatin silver prints, a work in 3 parts (sequence)
Each cm 25,2 x 20,2
On each verso: dated, stamped, titled and signed with a unique hand-typed journalistic description by Galella
Each framed (black wood with plexi) size cm 42 x 37
Original provenance: The artist, Montville USA

RON GALELLA (New York, 1931 - Montville, New Jersey, 2022)
Jackie Kennedy NYC, 7 October 1971


(Diptych, photo 1 by Joe Smith)
2 Vintage gelatin silver prints
Photo 1 cm 24, 5 x 15 - Photo 2 cm 24 x 19,5
Each signed, titled, dated and stamped on verso
Each framed (black wood) size cm 42 x 37
Original provenance: The artist, Montville, USA
 
It was late in the afternoon around 4.30 PM. I finished photographing a model, Joe Smith, who needed pictures for her portfolio. I wasn’t getting payed for it so I thought I might as well shoot in Central Park across from Jackie’s apartment in case I get lucky, and I did! Upon leaving the park I saw Jackie leave her apartment on 85th Street and head towards Madison Avenue. Joy could not believe it was Jackie! We were behind her at 85th street and Madison Avenue. Jackie made a left going north. I decided not to run in front of her, if I did she would have put on those dark glasses. So we hopped a cab to get in front of her so she couldn’t see me. “Follow that woman!” I told the cab driver. For once, Jackie’s instincts were all wrong; instead of turning away she turned right towards ma after hearing the first two clicks of the camera from the cab window. After getting out of the cab she spotted me and immediately put on sungalsses. I then handed Joy one of my cameras with a wide angle lens and prefocused to 15 feet. I told her to get the two of us together. Both Joy and I were clicking and laughing until Jackie furious turned and said “Are you pleased with yourself?” Well I knew then to stop and said “Thank you !” This is my favorite photo because it captures the qualities of paparazzi style; offguard, unrehearsed, spontaneous; the dramatic soft backlighting and the over-the-shoulder composition show her at her sexiest. She was casually dressed, wore no make-up and her hair was windblown which all added up to natural beauty. This is in contrast to the usual studio style picture. All the natural elements worked for me, including a little luck! Da Vinci had his “Mona Lisa” and I have my “Windblown Jackie”, my favorite, the most famous photo of Jackie.


Ron Galella


© 2004 Photology Editions
Ron Galella Esxclusive Diary

TAZIO SECCHIAROLI (Roma, 1925 - Roma, 1998)
Brigitte Bardot Le Mepris, 1963


Vintage gelatin silver print mounted on wood by the artist
Cm 64 x 49
Signed on verso, on wood
Framed (black wood and plexi) size cm 74 x 64 x 5
Original provenance: the artist, Rome Italy


Tazio Secchiaroli (Rome 1924-1998) is among the most interesting and relevant Italian photographers of the 20th Century. Born in Rome, he was devoted to “La Città Eterna“ for his entire life, shooting pictures with a small camera since he was a young kid. Street life, friends and family occasions were his first imagery, while later he was concentrating more on people portraits while walking in the center of Rome. He started making some money taking pictures of tourists as souvenirs of their Roman holidays and later, as a professional photographer for official visits of foreign politicians; this job was appointed by the agency V.E.D.O owned by Porry Pastorel a real teacher for Secchiaroli. Both were happily working together on very special projects such as reportage of peripheral areas of Rome which were published by local newspapers each Sunday. He soon opened his personal photo-agency, Roma’s Press Photo in order to have exclusive direct assignments to sell to specific magazines. Tazio Secchiaroli became a reference of the Italian lifestyle, only through his methodical photo- work in Via Veneto where mega Hollywood stars were spending their nights in hotels, restaurants and cafes. He was well known as the most controversial action- photographer, becoming part of the Roman cultural circle. Federico Fellini built on his deeds the character of Paparazzo for his Academy awarded movie “La Dolce Vita”. Secchiaroli is suddenly a real star by himself, nevertheless he feels it’s time to change his artistic path again. With the help of Fellini he decides to move his scenes from Via Veneto to Cinecittà where all the major movie productions are now based. Starting in 1962 with some of the famous Fellini movies such as 8 and 1/2, Secchiaroli concentrates the rest of his life to movie sets and cinema. He works with all the majors film directors and actors of the 60’s and 70’s, traveling all over the world; a special mention for Sophia Loren who decides to have Tazio Secchiaroli as her exclusive photographer for more than 20 years. He will retire from professional photography in 1992 when his long time friend Fellini releases his last movie “La voce della luna”, and dies soon after.


Giovanna Bertelli

MARCELLO GEPPETTI (Rieti, 1933 - Roma, 1998)
Brigitte Bardot and Gunther Sachs in their villa along the old Via Appia Roma 2 June 1967


(Polyptych), 6 Vintage gelatin silver prints. Work in 6 parts (sequence)
Sizes vary from cm 13 x 18 to cm 20 x 30
Each framed (black wood with plexi) size cm 37x 42
Each Stamped by Marcello Geppetti on verso
Original provenance: Geppetti Family, Roma

FEDERICO PATELLANI (Monza, 1911 - Milano, 1977)
Anna Magnani (nude) 1950 ca
Vintage gelatin silver print

Vintage gelatin silver print
Cm 33 x 25 ca.
Framed (black wood with plexi) size cm 52 x 42
Stamped on verso by the artist
Original provenance: Private collection, Milano

ELIO SORCI (Roma, 1932 - Roma, 2013)
Sophia Loren on the set of La ciociara Roma 1959


Vintage gelatin silver print
Cm 30 x 20
Stamped Agenzia Elio Sorci
Framed (black wood with plexi) size cm 37 x 42
Original provenance: Agenzia Masi, Milano

ELIO SORCI (Roma, 1932 - Roma, 2013)
Walter Chiari e Tazio Secchiaroli Roma 1958


(Diptych), 2 Vintage gelatin silver prints
Photo 1, cm 19 x 24 – Photo 2, cm 19 x 24.5
Each signed and annotated on verso
Each framed (black wood) size cm 42 x 37
Original provenance: the artist, Roma Italy


Q. > Can you tell us about what is still considered as the most popular episode, that is the running after of Walter Chiari an Tazio Secchiaroli which took place in Piazza di Spagna?
A. > I remember it very well, it is so popular also because Fellini took the idea for his movie, even though he had already thought of doing something on what was taking place in Rome; and yet, it was that reportage that trigered it all. He wanted to talk to Secchiaroli: the reportage was published on Settimo Giorno, he found the photographer and made him tell him all about what was taking place.
Q. > What happened that night in Piazza di Spagna?
A. > We were in Via Veneto; I got a phone call from one of my collaborators who had seen Ava Gardner with Walter Chiari in a place nearby the American embassy. I went there with another colleague. After a while, Secchiaroli arrived, certainly someone had called him too, and we started to follow the couple until we reached Piazza di Spagna, ehere she was living; when she got out of the car, Secchiaroli, who got closer, became the target of Walter Chiari who threatened to hit him, even though he never hit any photo-reporters and he would never do it. Many others did, but he was very nice to us. Of course, he took such a threatening attitude in front of Gardner, and it seemed that were fighting each other.


An Elio Sorci interview


A Flash of Art
© 2004 Photology Editions

TAZIO SECCHIAROLI (Roma, 1925 - Roma, 1998)
Sophia Loren, La contessa di Hong Kong Hong Kong, 1968


(Diptych), 2 Vintage gelatin silver prints. Work in 2 parts (sequence)
Each cm 35 x 24 ca.
Each signed and stamped on verso
Each framed (black wood with plexi) size cm 52 x 42
Original provenance: The artist, Roma

PIERLUIGI PRATURLON (Roma, 1924 - Roma, 1999)
Claudia Cardinale Hong Kong, 1964


(Quadriptych), 4 Vintage gelatin silver prints. Work in 4 parts (sequence)
Each cm 29,5 x 24
Each stamped “Pierluigi” on verso
Each framed (black wood)size cm 42 x 52 x 2
Original provenance: © Reporters Associati, Roma

PIERLUIGI PRATURLON (Roma, 1924 - Roma, 1999)
Sophia Loren & Cary Grant on the set of La ciociara Roma 1959


(Triptych), 3 Vintage gelatin silver prints. Work in 3 parts (sequence)
Each cm 23 x 18 ca.
Each signed and stamped by the artist
Framed (white wood with plexi) size cm 64 x 48
Each with a unique hand-typed journalistic description by Pierluigi Praturlon
Original provenance: © Reporters Associati, Roma

JOCK STURGES (New York, 1947 - )
Last days of summer Montalivet, France 1989


Vintage Gelatin Silver Print
Cm 45 x 35
Framed (light wood with plexi) size cm 62x52
A/P # 2
Signed on verso
Original provenance: PDNB Gallery, Dallas USA

PAUL THUILE (Bolzano, 1959 - )
Via San Valentino 1 Sernesistrasse 1 2005


Vintage color print mounted on aluminium
Signed on verso
Cm 125x100
Edition 1/3
Framed (black wood)
With a certificate of authenticity by Paul Thuile
Original provenance: The artist, Gargazzone (BZ)

WILHELM VON GLOEDEN (Wismar, 1856 - Taormina, 1931)
Maria Early 1900s


Original albumen photograph
Cm 18 x 13,5
Original provenance: Aquired from a Private Collection, Belgium

WILHELM VON PLÜSCHOW (Wismar, 1852 - Berlino, Berlino)
Untitled (Boys) Early 1900s


Original albumen photograph
Cm 11.5 x 16.3
Wooden lacquered frame, cm 24 x 34 x 2.5
Original provenance: Aquired from Giuseppe Casetti, Il museo del louvre, Rome

ALEXANDER RODCHENKO (San Pietroburgo, 1891 - Mosca, 1956)
Laughing Pioneer 1930


Gelatin silver print
Cm 31 x 24
Framed (black wood with plexi) size cm 42 x 37
Edition 21/50
Stamped “Rodchenko atelier” and annotated on verso
Original provenance: Private collection, Milano

ALEXANDER RODCHENKO (San Pietroburgo, 1891 - Mosca, 1956)
At the balloon 1927


Gelatin silver print
Cm 30 x 24
Framed (black wood with plexi) size cm 42 x 37
Edition 21/50
Stamped “Rodchenko atelier” and annotated on verso
Original provenance: Private collection Milano

ALEXANDER RODCHENKO (San Pietroburgo, 1891 - Mosca, 1956)
Wheel 1936


Gelatin silver print
Cm 30 x 23
Framed (black wood with plexi) size cm 42 x 37
Edition 21/50
Stamped “Rodchenko atelier” and annotated on verso
Original provenance: Private collection, Milano

ELLIOTT ERWITT (Parigi, 1928 - New York, 2023)
Versailles 1975


Vintage master gelatin silver print
Cm 12 x 17
Framed (black wood and plexi) size cm 29x32
Signed on recto
Original provenance: The artist, New York

ALFRED EISENSTAEDT (Tczew, 1898 - Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts, 1995)
VJ day New York 1945


Early gelatin silver press print (printed 1973)
Cm 25 x 20
Extensively annotated, dated and stamped
Life Magazine on verso
Framed (dark blunt wood with plexi) size cm 59 x 49 x 1
Original provenance: Agenzia Masi, Milano Italy


I reconcile myself to life.
Today, thirty years after the invention of the Internet, when everybody is sailing the virtual seas of the world, clicking and following life via the computer (Tomorrow this could all be happening on the cellphone display) today - I was saying - Eisenstaedt’s most famous photograph, the one of the kiss in Times Square, still gives us that wonderful sense of sexuality, the joy of simple emotions and light after the tragic destruction of the war. He really had navigated the seas of the Pacific, lived through the deaths of thousands of his military comrades, slept with fear, and, using the then available technology, had spied on the enemy’s moves. He had survived, now burst into the tumult of the streets of New York which was celebrating Victory and kissed everyone of them. Overcome with the sheer joy and sensuality of it, he just did it. To everyone’s delight and approval. And “She”, the subject and object of life which was starting over, didn’t raise the least resistance because she knew how the sailor’s love legend always went. It could have been a scene out of a Frank Sinatra film but it was just a moment out of life that a great artist fixed on film without the help of lights, computers or assistants. If life is the art of meeting then photography is the art of catching life and Alfred Eisenstaedt was its great songster. Leafing through his pictures is like sailing over the marvellous fickleness life offers us.
Internet - You must be joking!


G. Alberto Orefice


© 2000 Photology Editions
100 to 2000 the century of Photoart

ALFRED EISENSTAEDT (Tczew, 1898 - Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts, 1995)
Afternoon Tea Hotel Excelsior Florence 1934


Vintage silver print
Cm 28 x 22
Stamped and annotated on verso
Framed (black wood with plexi) size cm 46x37
Original provenance: Agenzia Masi, Milano

ETTORE SOTTSASS (Innsbruck, 1917 - Milano, 2007)
Il resto del vulcano (#2516) 1996-2005


Digital ink jet print on watercolor cardboard, mounted on aluminium
Cm 85 x 130
From an edition of 3
Signed on a label
Framed (light wood and plexi) size cm 88x133
Original provenance: the artist, Milano

SERSE (San Polo di Piave, 1952 - )
Cervino 1997


Graphite drawing on paper mounted on d-bond
Cm 100 x 70
Framed (light wood + plexi) size cm 110x83
With a certificate of autencity
Original provenance: Galleria Continua, San Gimignano

GIAN PAOLO BARBIERI (Milano, 1935 - Milano, 2024)
Il sonno del pescatore Madagascar 1994


Cm 54 x 53
Vintage gelatin silver print in an original African wooden frame (size cm 78 x 77)
Edition 1/10
Signed on verso and framed by Mauro Mori Milano
Original provenance: The artist, Milano

GIANFRANCO GORGONI (Roma, 1941 - New York, 2019)
Robert Smithson Spiral Jetty Rozel Point, Salt Lake City, Utah 2010


Color print on Hahnemuhle paper (printed 2018)
Cm 61 x 77
Unique work in this size
Signed on artist label
Framed (white wood + plexi) size cm 84 x 101 x 4,5
Original provenance: The artist, New York USA


I met Robert Smithson in the early 1970’s at Max Kansas City, in New York, an American bar near Union Square that was very much in vogue among the artists of the time. Indeed the bar was mainly frequented by the “New York Art Scene” and could be compared to Caffè Rosati in Rome or Bar Giamaica in Milan. He was usually with Carl Andre and Richard Serra, who I already knew. So, whenever my eyes met with Smithson’s it was obviously a cordial greeting.
One evening someone, I can’t remember who, took me to his studio in the Village; he told me that he would be going to Utah in the Spring to find a location for his next project: a Land Art piece in the Great Salt Lake. He showed me some drawings he had done of a road that lead into a lake, ending in an islet.
It was then that I proposed to document what was to become his most famous work, the Spiral Jetty.


Gianfranco Gorgoni


© 2010 Photology Editions
Gianfranco Gorgoni Spiral Jetty