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6-2-09 The Noel Rockmore Project Update |
Greetings!
Big News - "The Coney Island Labyrinth" went for $22,800 at Neal Auction! The Big news is that we know who the owner is and there is a strong possibility that it will be allowed to go on the eventual museum tour/show. There is something about seeing a Rockmore Masterpiece in person that is a moving experience.
Bigger News - Lot # 997 Link" Farewell to the Crescent City" egg tempera is coming up this Sunday on June 7th at New Orleans Auction Galleries probably between 2-3PM. This is a large egg tempera from Rockmore's 1961 egg tempera series. The difficulty in working in egg tempera ( Wikapedia) is that it uses actually egg whites that dry quickly so that you really need to be a master of laying down your brush strokes quickly and in an exact rhythm if you are doing details like lines, stripes, feathers etc. This is another Rockmore Masterpiece that needs to be seen in person to really experience.
There is also an original Lot #998 Link New Orleans 1st Jazzfest poster featuring drummer Booker T. Glass which will be auctioned right after the Crescent City Lot. That's all for now. We will keep you posted. Click on the name below to email us if you are interested in having your Rockmore's or Rockmore story documented this summer.
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Lot #997 "Farewell to the Crescent City" |
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| June 7 2009 - New Orleans Auction Galleries - Estimate $4500-7000
Remarkable how similar Jackson Square remains to this day.
Nice details on left in one take - Rockmore with violin and artist girlfriend on right.
Facts and Thoughts about this Rockmore Masterpiece
LOT DESCRIPTION - Noel Rockmore (American/New Orleans, 1928-1995) "Farewell to the Crescent City", 1961, tempera on board, signed, dated and inscribed lower left "Rockmore '61 New Orleans", retains gallery label en verso "Harry Salpeter Gallery, 42 East 57th Street, New York", 24" x 18". Framed. Provenance: Private collection, New York.
#1 Largest picture in 1964 catalog ( link to catalog) and Harry Salpeter was his first NYC Gallery Rep and thought enough of this work to keep it in his own collection at the time of the Show in 1964. The Egg Temperas are the most exquisite and rare of the Rockmore works - he worked in this medium in the early 60s and again in 75.
#2 Titled "Farewell to the Crescent City" - At this time in his life - he was just visiting New Orleans and had no idea he would return the following year and do the Preservation Hall Portraits deal with Larry Borenstien. No doubt that is Rockmore with the violin and he seems much happier than he normally depicts himself.
#3 The babies look like a forerunner of the "feeple" that would become part of his works - the fact that they are strewn with the bottles and connected with the psychedelic flowers ( Flowers were Gladys Rockmore Davis signature) makes it really interesting. The lonely little girl and seated man are elements from the time he did the 1957 Life magazine "Loneliness in Numbers" - see right. 
#4 Completed painting under artist arm seems to be a part of his New Orleans dock series. Rockmore was still having difficulty drawing hands in 1961 as you by his own hands although the baby has interesting hands.
#5 The painting is located under a Dali work in a room at the New Orleans Auction Galleries. Rockmore's work is at eye level and there is no comparison to which work is superior here. Rockmore would have liked that because he already knew it!
#6 "Whoever gets this will have a treasure that the Noel Rockmore Project is eager to include in an eventual museum tour. There is no doubt that there are several mysteries to be uncovered in this rare find (who is the girlfriend) that will make it a great conversation piece for the new owner." Please let us know if that is you! |
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Lot # 998 - 1st New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Poster
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| June 7 2009 - New Orleans Auction Galleries - Estimate $1400-$1800
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