oil on canvas, signed and dated "Mar. 10, '64" upper right, 58 in. x 34 1/8 in., framed

 

Facts: Born into a family of musicians from rural Mississippi, Sylvester Handy followed his brother "Captain" John Handy to New Orleans to pursue his career in jazz. Playing string bass, Sylvester joined his brother's group "Captain John Handy's New Orleans All-Star Band", a group that included famed trumpet player Punch Miller.

This handsome formal portrait of "Sylvester Handy" is part of Noel Rockmore's critically acclaimed "Preservation Hall Portraits." In 1962, Larry Borenstein commissioned Rockmore to create a series of paintings of the musicians who played nightly at the newly opened Preservation Hall on St. Peter Street in the French Quarter. According to Borenstein, who was delighted with Rockmore's perspective, "He seemed to plumb the very depths of the souls of the musicians - the pathos, the despair, the heroism, the irony." Reference: Borenstein, Larry, and Bill Russell, Preservation Hall Portraits, Louisiana State University Press, Baton Rouge, 1968934.

 

Thoughts: This is the big one of the weekend. It is magnificent and as fine as any Preservation Hall Portrait. Even in these economic times, it will probably make the all time Top 20 Rockmore's sold at auction. 

 

 

 

(Marie Douroux b. Jan. 11, 1904 New Orleans)", acrylic on masonite, signed upper right, titled en verso, 12 in. x 19 in., framed.

Facts: The condition report says surface dirt under the glass. It might be old and dirty or perhaps a Katrina victim. Quite hard to tell from the picture. The Fact is that Dolly Adams is a well recognized pianist from the Preservation Hall series.

 

Thoughts:This could be quite a prize at this low estimate even with restoration if needed.

 

 

 

oil on masonite, signed and dated "'63" upper left, inscribed "Two Heads" en verso, 16 1/4 in. x 20 1/8 in., framed.

 

Lot#947 "Johnny White's Melvin", pastel on paper, signed, dated "77", and inscribed "N.O." upper right, titled lower right, with a "Casell Gallery, New Orleans" label en verso, 19 3/4 in. x 16 in., framed.

Estimate $800/1200
Provenance: Estate of Jake Ciaccio, New Orleans.Facts: Melvin was the porter at Johnny White's for a long time until he died. He was certainly a French Quarter character and loved by the patrons, employers and Rockmore. He is depicted in the Johnny White Portrait as well as in The Homage to Johnny White's. Rockmore always drew him with a hat but that does not mean he always wore one.

 

Thoughts: Rockmore's pastels of his friends from this 1977 time period are some of his brightest, most cheerful and finest portrait pastels. His mother wrote the book on Pastel Painting. When the story is all said and told, many of these characters from The French Quarter will be studied and their portraits will be observed and commented on. Alpine John below went for $717 last auction, Melvin should command at least that.  

 

 

Lot# 958-"Midday, McGlades Saloon, NYC", acrylic on board, signed, dated "'70", and inscribed "McGlades" lower right, titled, dated "Feb 1970" en verso, 12 in. x 24 in.

Facts: Located on the corner of 68th and Columbus Streets in New York City, Paddy McGlades Saloon was a favorite neighborhood bar for over a hundred years. Hanging from the ceiling was a round clock with the numbers printed backwards allowing the patrons to read the time in a mirror without turning around. Images of horseracing, a favorite pastime of the bartender Al "The Bishop," were displayed above the register. Rockmore depicts the seedy bar at midday, with bright light streaming in through the doorway and windows. Reference: "What Makes a Great Bar?", Theme Magazine, United Kingdom, February, 2002,

Thoughts: Fair estimate but this just might be a work that would do better in NYC after Rockmore is rediscovered. There is no doubt that McGlades Bar(NYC), Café des Artiste(NYC), Johnny Whites(NOLA) and The Alpine(NOLA) will become part of the famous Rockmore hangouts legend. McGlades is now a Starbucks in NYC.