JEAN DUBUFFET (1901-1985)
Visiteur au chapeau bleu avril 1955
signed and dated ‘J. Dubuffet 55. Courtesy CHRISTIE’S IMAGES LTD. 2016
The Collection of Leslie Waddington was a sellout at Christie’s in London on October 4. Spirited bidding for the personal collection of a pioneering art dealer saw 80% of works selling over estimate in an auction which achieved £28,285,525. Bidders registered from 37 countries across six continents. It was an electric start of the much anticipated Frieze Week auctions. The top lot was Jean Dubuffet’s Visiteur au chapeau bleu (Visitor with a Blue Hat) which sold for £4,813,000.
Born in Dublin Leslie Waddington, who died last year aged 81, was son the art dealer Victor Waddington and his wife Zelda (nee Levine). In 1927 Victor had founded a pioneering gallery in Dublin that represented contemporary Irish artists including Jack Yeats. Leslie Waddington received a classical education at Portora Royal School, Enniskillen, whose old boys included Oscar Wilde and Samuel Beckett. He revered the Irish literary tradition and later on, in Paris, befriended Beckett, with whom he played chess. In 1958 he joined his father’s new gallery at Cork St. in London and in 1966 set up on his own. In 2003 he was one of the first dealers to participate in Frieze.
(See post on antiquesandartireland.com for July 19, 2016)
ALEXANDER CALDER (1898-1976)
Le serpent rouge (The Red Snake) sold for £4,421,000. Courtesy Christie’s Images Ltd., 2016
FRANCIS PICABIA (1879-1953) Lampe sold for £3,637,000. Courtesy Christie’s Images Ltd., 2016