Phillips’ London Photographs auction takes place on 16 May and features work by leaders in the field including Mario Testino, Irving Penn, Annie Leibovitz, Guy Bourdin and more.
The sale also includes HELMUT NEWTON: PROVOCATEUR Photographs from the Collection of Simon de Pury – a selection of 50 photographs by Helmut Newton from the personal collection of auctioneer and art dealer, Simon de Pury, who enjoyed a long-lasting friendship with Newton and amassed an incredible collection of works by the celebrated photographer.
Highlights of the auction include:
Mario Testino’s iconic portrait of Kate Moss, taken in 2001 for the cover of the monograph that accompanied his first ever museum retrospective Mario Testino: Portraits at the National Portrait Gallery, London. For over three decades Testino and Moss have enjoyed an extraordinary friendship, and this image is testimony to both Testino’s artistic brilliance and the enduring trust between two of the world’s most definitive style leaders. This portrait has been in the same private collection for 18 years and is appearing at auction for the first time. Estimate: £60,000 – 80,000
Irving Penn, The Palm of Miles Davis, New York, 1986. In 1986, Irving Penn embarked on an assignment to photograph the jazz legend for his album Tutu. With art direction by Eiko Ishioka, the resulting album portraits, including this work, remain some of the most timeless portraits of Davis and earned Ishioka the 1987 Grammy Award for Best Album Package. Estimate: £40,000 – 60,000
Annie Leibovitz, Queen Elizabeth II, Buckingham Palace, London, 2007. Featured in the sale are two portraits of Queen Elizabeth II, both of which were captured in 2007 by renowned photographer Annie Leibovitz, the first American to be invited to take an official portrait of the Queen. Drawing inspiration from classical royal portraiture, Leibovitz skillfully uses post-production techniques to infuse her images with a timeless historical resonance. Both portraits of the Queen featured in this sale were included in the artist’s Master Set, a curated collection of her most important images. Estimate: £25,000 – 35,000
Helmut Newton, Saddle II, Paris, 1976 Estimate: £40,000-60,000
Helmut Newton, Leaving Las Vegas, 1998 Estimate: £40,000 – 60,000
Simon de Pury said, “As a young man, I found fashion magazines infinitely more inspiring than art magazines. Whenever I found an image that really struck me, I would check the name of the photographer and it was invariably Helmut Newton. Years later, Helmut invited me to visit him, and I instantly fell in love with him and his wife June, who was an outstanding photographer working under the name of Alice Springs. From that moment onwards they became some of the dearest and closest friends I have been blessed to have had in this life.”
“Helmut asked me to represent him, and it became a wonderful collaboration. We produced amazing exhibitions together and I had the chance to acquire a number of his photographs for my own collection. I feel now is the time to pass these works on so that other collectors can derive from them the same pleasure they have given me. I love Helmut’s work as much today as I did when I first saw it. Alongside Andy Warhol, Helmut is the artist who has had the greatest influence on contemporary culture.”
Yuka Yamaji, Head of Photographs, Europe, and Rachel Peart, Head of Department, London, said, “We are thrilled to introduce our Spring auction in London, featuring Mario Testino’s tribute to Kate Moss alongside exceptional works by celebrated photographers such as Irving Penn, Seiji Kurata, and Annie Leibovitz.”
“We are honoured that our May sale will also include HELMUT NEWTON: PROVOCATEUR Photographs from the Collection of Simon de Pury. This curation of 50 lots marks an exciting moment for the market as it is the first time such a substantial selection of Helmut Newton’s works from Simon de Pury’s personal collection will be offered at auction.”
The catalogue for the auction is online now with works on view in Phillips London galleries on Berkeley Square from 10 to 16 May. The live auction on 16 May will consist of two sessions: the first at 1pm and the second, featuring the sale of HELMUT NEWTON: PROVOCATEUR, at 4pm. For further information: phillips.com
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Image: Mario Testino, Kate Moss, London, 2001 Estimate: £60,000 – 80,000 Image courtesy of Phillips