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Christie's Auction House

December 5 1766 James Christie conducted his first sale on a journey that would create Christie's Auction House. Historically important sales have occurred since that date including the sale of Sir Robert Walpole's collection of paintings to Catherine the Great, Empress of Russia, which she used to form the base of the Hermitage Museum Collection in St. Petersburg.

Title: Cannone semovente /Self-Propelled Cannon, 1965
Artist: Pino Pascali (Italian 1935-1968)
Medium: Wood, scrap metal, wheels
Dimensions: 99 x 134 x 97 in (251 x 340 x 246 cm)
Estimate: £500,000-700,000
© and Image Courtesy: CHRISTIE'S IMAGES LTD.2003

Italian Flair: 20th Century Italian Art will be featured in Christie's London sale in the evening of October 21. The sale comprises major paintings and sculptures from 20th Century Italian modern and contemporary masters. Artists that are nationally known in Italy are being brought to the world market. The auction will provide an embodiment of Italian art through modern, post-war and contemporary eras. Several impressive pieces will be featured that almost goes without saying when it comes to auctions at Christies.

Title: White Bed, 1968
Artist: Domenico Gnoli (Italian 1933-1969)
Medium: acrylic and sand on canvas
Dimensions: 56 x 79in. (141 x 201cm.)
Estimate: £200,000-300,000
© and Image Courtesy: CHRISTIE'S IMAGES LTD.2003

Several works in different media by Marino Marini form a key part of the auction. Marini is best known for his constant theme of horse and rider - he began this in the late 1930's and it became his trademark.  Originally Marini studied painting at the Florence Academy but his continuing interest in Etruscan art led him to change his prime focus to sculpture. During his lifetime he continued to paint and worked in several mediums.

Giorgio Morandi a graduate of the Academy of Fine Arts in his birthplace Bologna was known for his collection of black and white copies of artwork that he was unable to visit personally. Certainly among Europeans the use of Academic Copies is a longstanding tradition to help an artist develop his own talent.

The Achromes of Piero Manzoni are prominently featured in the auction. Manzoni focused on traditional landscapes evolved into the pursuit of mixed media. His work is considered conceptual art and while an avid artist he devoted enormous quantities of his time to promote artwork and create manifestos outlining his visions.