Neal AuctionLot #800 "Bill Russell, Composer and Jazz Music
Historian (1905-1992) with Shadow",
oil on canvas, signed and dated "'89" lower left,
titled en verso, 46 1/2 in. x 22 1/4 in.,
attractively framed.
Estimate $4000/6000
Facts: Bill Russell and well endowed nudes were
two of Rockmore's favorite subjects. Many folks
do not know the significance that Bill Russell had
in the preserving of the Jazz culture and it's heritage.
This one was on display at Bryant Galleries up until recently
and priced much higher than this estimate.
Thoughts: The Historic New Orleans Collection not only
has an Annual Bill Russell symposium they also own a large
Bill Russell with a nude as well. Theirs also has toys in it
like the strange doll to the right on this one. If the HNOC
thinks this type of Rockmore is significant enough to have
in their collection, that is a good sign.
Neal Auction
Lot #801 "Joe Watkins, Drummer (b. 1900)",
oil on canvas, signed and dated "April 4, '63" upper right,
titled upper left, 40 in. x 31 in., framed.
Estimate $3000/5000
Provenance: Reproduced in the book Preservation Hall Portraits
Facts: In 1962, Larry Borenstein hired the talented artist
Noel Rockmore to create a series of portraits of the musicians
that played nightly at Preservation Hall in the French Quarter.
Rockmore had recently moved from New York to New Orleans
and had immersed himself in the local bohemian community of
artists, writers and musicians. This portrait of Joe Watkins is
part of the series of formally posed portraits of musicians.
New Orleans-born drummer Joe Watkins joined George Lewis' band
which played at Manny's Tavern and El Morocco Club on Bourbon Street;
he later traveled with Lewis' band to California. In the 1950s,
Watkins divided him time between New Orleans and California.
Eventually, Watkins returned to New Orleans permanently and
played regularly at Pres Hall with George Lewis and Punch Miller's bands.
Thoughts: Booker T went for $14,900 last auction.
This will exceed the estimate.
Neal Auction
Lot # 802"Oscar Joseph 'Chicken' Henry, Trombone Player
(b. 1888):Eureka Brass Band", mixed media on paper,
signed and titled lower right, titled en verso,
sight 13 1/4 in. x 10 1/2 in., in a giltwood frame.
Estimate $500/700
Provenance: Collection of Alice Barry,
New Orleans and Pass Christian, MS.
Facts: Chicken Henry was another of Rockmore's favorite
jazz musician subjects. Rockmore often said that he felt
that these type of watercolors were some of his best work.
There are not too many jazz Rockmore's where Rockmore
actually did lettering like he did on Chicken Henry's hat.
Thoughts: If this went for anywhere near the estimate it
would be the steal of the weekend. It won't.
It's just too darn good.
Alice certainly knew how to pick them!
Neal Auction
Lot #803 "Alpine John", pastel on paper,
signed and dated "79" lower right,
25 5/8 in. x 19 7/8 in., in a period frame.
Estimate $1000/1500
Provenance: Estate of Jake Ciaccio, New Orleans.
Facts: Beloved for its affordable drinks and food,
the lively Alpine Restaurant and Bar on Chartres Street
was a favorite gathering place for artists, writers and numerous
local characters who resided in the French Quarter
during the 1970s and 1980s. The artist Noel Rockmore,
a regular patron, painted this wonderful portrait of the waiter
called "Alpine John." With an apron tied at his waist,
John's deeply lined face with dark bags under his eyes
alludes to hard living life.
Thoughts: Rockmore's famous mother, Gladys Rockmore Davis,
literally wrote the book on Pastel Painting. The apple does not
fall far from the tree. A stunning use of pastel colors.
New Orleans Auction Galleries Lot # 893 "The Scribe", 1990, oil on canvas, signed and dated upper right "Rockmore 90 Jan", 30" x 48". Framed.
ESTIMATE 1000 - 1500
Provenance: Bryant Galleries, New Orleans
Facts: This is one of Rockmore's more normal Egyptian paintings.A nice oil on a nice canvas and nothing too bizarre going on. This was actually at the beginning of Rockmore's Egyptian series
as is the one below this. Rockmore studied Egypt extensively and felt that he could go back to Egypt and capture it as the master artist that he was.
Thoughts: There is a lot of interesting detail on this one that will probably be discovered to have some significance. This would qualify as a Rockmore that would certainly look good in any home or office and not create too much of a stir.
New Orleans Auction Galleries
Lot # 894 "Yellow Girls - Old Kingdom", 1990,
mixed media on canvas, signed and dated upper right "Rockmore '90 Jan", 36" x 48".
Handsomely framed.
ESTIMATE 1000 - 1500
Provenance: Bryant Galleries, New Orleans, Louisiana.
Facts: Same subject matter and same time period
but now he has introduced a few new elements.
There is the gold leaf that he was quite fond of and
then there is the slightly bizarre subject matter.
I.E. What are these Egyptians doing exactly.
Thoughts: To look at it, you would say, they are
having chicken fights with water balloons.
It probably has much deeper significance.
New Orleans Auction Galleries
Lot # 895 "Nude in Red Stockings", 1981,
oil on masonite, signed and dated lower left
"Rockmore 81", 8" x 10". Handsomely framed.
ESTIMATE 500 - 800
Provenance: Collection of Mrs. Shirley Marvin, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Facts: Certainly whimsical and out of the ordinary as far as nudes and Rockmore goes. He was quite
particular about the size and shape of his models
and his girlfriends (see Shadow with Bill Russell).
The estimate is low as far as Rockmore oils go
although at 8 X 10, it is also small.
Thoughts: This one is just kind of fun and makes
people laugh when they see it. Folks often comment on Rockmore's unique sense of humor when we interview them.
New Orleans Auction Galleries
Lot # 896 "Pandora", 1985, mixed media on paper, titled lower left, signed and dated lower right "Rockmore 85", sight 23" x 17-1/4". Glazed, matted and framed.
Provenance: Collection of Mrs. Shirley Marvin, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Facts: This one created the most interest at the
Get Together #2 that we had at Bryant Galleries.
It is from a time in 1985 when Rockmore had left
the intense series of Haiti and Mill Valley of 83 & 84
and was just doing some fantasy with motion.
Of course, there is his gold leaf at the center of attention. That bubble like design is a recurring theme as well.
Thoughts: Once again, there is nothing objectionable about this one. It makes you think and uses several different styles.
New Orleans Auction Galleries
Lot # 897 "Mardi Gras Indians at Festival", 1970, graphite and watercolor on paper, signed and dated in black ink lower right "Rockmore 70", titled lower right, sight 10-1/2" x 13-1/4". Glazed and framed.
ESTIMATE 350 - 500
Provenance: Collection of Mrs. Shirley Marvin,
Facts: This is from the time of First New Orleans Jazzfest series where Rockmore was commissioned by George Wein to capture the Jazzfest and all it's activities. These Mardi Gras Indians are an important part of New Orleans culture. To be honest we did not fully understand it until we became addicted to the
HBO series, Treme, which spends time letting
you get to know this part of the cultural experience.
Thoughts: Rockmore can express a lot in his delicate watercolors.At this estimate, it is close to the steal of the weekend, right up
there with the Chicken Henry watercolor.
New Orleans Auction Lot #898 "Mardi Gras Horses", 1983, oil on canvas, signed and dated lower right "Rockmore '83", 32" x 46".
ESTIMATE 800 - 1200
Provenance: Collection of Mrs. Shirley Marvin, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Facts: Part of the Mardi Gras Backstage series of 1983 from the Blain Kern Warehouses and the Sandra Zahn Oreck Gallery Show. Rockmore love animals and he loved depicting them with human looks and emotions in their eyes. This is a great example of that as well as part of one of
his more famous and collectible series. There was actually a field behind the warehouses and Rockmore took a photo of these abandoned horses and then enhanced the expressions and eyes.
Thoughts: It's a nice large oil and certainly interesting to look it.
New Orleans Auction Galleries
Lot # 899 "Split Level Grid", 1988, mixed media on paper, signed and dated lower right "Rockmore 88 Dec", titled lower center,
verso with "Cassell Gallery, New Orleans" label, sight 9-1/4" x 8-3/4". Glazed, matted and framed.
ESTIMATE 500 - 800
Provenance: Collection of Mrs. Shirley Marvin, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Facts: Part of the Grid series which originated on the football betting cards at Johnny White's bar. This particular grid is unique in that Rockmore decides
to capture and above ground and underwater scene on the same grid. There is fantastic detail including tubes from his tube series and a cityscape
background that was part of his early New Orleans series.
Thoughts: The complexity and details in these grid series is quite amazing to look at and analyze. You can really get an insight into the artist thought process and even though no two squares
are continuous, they work together to form a complex understandable work.
New Orleans Auction Galleries
Lot # 900 "Ganesha with Observer", 1992, mixed media on paper,
titled lower right, signed, dated and inscribed lower right,
"Rockmore July 92, Touro", sight 24" x 18-1/2".
Glazed, matted and framed.
ESTIMATE 350 - 500
Provenance: Collection of Mrs. Shirley Marvin, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Facts: This is part of a series that Rockmore did when he was in Touro Hospital for a stomach ailment in 1992. He went through the DT's from getting off alcohol
during his stay and painted every day even through the DT's. You can see the work get better as he starts to heal. This one occurs towards the end of his stay. He is
also in his poking at Picasso with his multifaceted faces that are all different self portraits. He had teeth issues and was very aware of teeth and dental pain as well as a sharp tongue. He considered himself "the Observer" of the human condition. "Ganesha" is a Hindu symbol widely revered as the Remover of Obstacles, patron of arts and sciences, and the deva of intellect and wisdom.
Thoughts: This one is just too interesting and cool all the way around. How about
in the lobby of a psychiatrist office or dentist office? Better yet, in your house, your very own conversation piece. "Tell me about this one?" "Oh that's my Rockmore, at the time he was...."
New Orleans Auction Galleries
Lot # 893 "Alien, Female Nude and the King of Clubs", 1991, mixed media on paper, signed and dated lower left "Rockmore 91 Mar",
verso with "Cassell Gallery, New Orleans" label, sight 11-1/2" x 9". Glazed, matted and framed.
ESTIMATE 300 - 500
Provenance: Collection of Mrs. Shirley Marvin, Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Facts: This has the lowest estimate of the weekend and yet it certainly is an interesting, colorful, piece. This is part of a series that he did in 1991 which
has the recurring theme of a nude and a stressed out looking guy and then other characters like the alien & the King of Clubs.
Thoughts: Even when the art gets absolutely Rockmore crazy, technically, it can be very appealing. The female nude is a recurring theme, the King of Clubs is interesting, the Alien is the middle one and that's him on the left with the teeth and sword. One day soon, folks will want to study this one and analyze just what it means and you could own it. Then you can say, I got this one when it was only ..... now its worth a fortune :<)
