Christie's presents more than 100 Works by Artists Who Inspired Sendak, in addition to almost 30 original works of Sendak himself. A brilliant designer and visionary artist who spread his art through books, Sendak was drawn to prints, drawings, and books from the Romantic period of the late 500th and early XNUMXth centuries, but Sendak's taste spanned the last XNUMX years, from textiles to toys to Chinese ceramics. The auction offers some of the great names in art history: Dürer, Rembrandt, Picasso and Hockney, with particular attention to British artists, including William Blake, but also George Stubbs, Henry Fuseli and Samuel Palmer. Works by children's authors, including Beatrix Potter and Eric Carle, are featured., as well as items depicting Sendak's lifelong inspiration, Mickey Mouse.
The influence of these works is visible in the indelible images and words that Sendak created.
William Blake is present in Sendak's visionary narrative through poetry and image; George Stubbs and Beatrix Potter are echoed in the drama and humor of the animals and mythical creatures that populate the landscapes of Sendak's imagination and, through him, those of generations of children and adults around the world.
To ensure that children continue to be enchanted by the next generation of visual storytellers, these sales will support the Sendak Fellowship, a residency program at the Maurice Sendak Foundation, a nonprofit organization that encourages, teaches, and supports artists who tell stories through illustration.
Cover Artwork: Maurice Sendak. A Lion (A Lion Resting on a Rock), etching with roulette, on laid paper, 1788, Plate: 10 x 13 inches (254 x 330 mm), Sheet: 125/8 x 16 inches (321 x 406 mm). Estimate: $20.000-30.000
