Lot Essay
In the early 1960s, Mel Ferrer met Tamayo in Paris and invited him to Switzerland in order to paint a portrait of Mr. Ferrer's wife, Audrey Hepburn. Tamayo spent one week in the couple's villa La Paisible, finishing the portrait, which remains in the family's collection. It was during this time that Sandías y Naranja was acquired from the artist.
There is no other pictorial image as truly emblematic of Tamayo's oeuvre than the watermelon. By painting watermelons, Tamayo paints something which is a daily and affordable staple for the Mexican people, both nourishing and a joy to place on the table. In countless paintings this humble fruit has been depicted by the artist as a central theme, conveying a message which is fundamental to his work. It is the artist's deep and profoundly experienced love for Mexico, a relationship which expresses itself continuously throughout his work.
Tamayo's still lifes are a reflection of his aesthetic approach to painting which does not allow for fleshy roundness and sumptuous curves. His lines are sparse and almost severe, only softened in this instance by the rich, pure red of the fruit. One might say that popular art has had a strong influence on the creation of Tamayo's art -the strong, vibrant reds and greens taken from fiesta decorations, and the recurrent use of earthen and ochre tones derived from pottery, colors which are also repeated in the varied shades of the very landscape of Mexico.
In Sandías y Naranja the three elegantly executed slices of watermelon seem to float in space, not bound by the limitations of a bowl or a plate, only the glowing sphere of the orange acting as an anchor for the composition. Tamayo's complete identification with his native roots and culture largely precluded the influence of European trends, thus allowing him to concentrate on the essential aspects of his art - to depict the Mexican spirit in all its manyfold nuances. The present painting is a superb example of the master's desire to pay tribute to his people.
Coming from the collection of one of the most distinguished and beloved actresses of the silver screen, this painting holds special meaning. Adored by millions for her unforgettable depictions of characters such as Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady, Princess Anna in Roman Holiday, or the charming Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany's, Audrey Hepburn secured an important place in Hollywood movie history. Beyond her brilliant acting career, Ms. Hepburn made a lasting contribution to the work of UNICEF by acting as a Goodwill Ambassador. She devoted most of her time and energy to this humanitarian task and through it became an inspiration of another kind to the people all over the world. The impact her work made was immeasurable and the passion and authority with which she spoke about the cause helped make children a priority issue of international scope, pointing the way for others to follow.
There is no other pictorial image as truly emblematic of Tamayo's oeuvre than the watermelon. By painting watermelons, Tamayo paints something which is a daily and affordable staple for the Mexican people, both nourishing and a joy to place on the table. In countless paintings this humble fruit has been depicted by the artist as a central theme, conveying a message which is fundamental to his work. It is the artist's deep and profoundly experienced love for Mexico, a relationship which expresses itself continuously throughout his work.
Tamayo's still lifes are a reflection of his aesthetic approach to painting which does not allow for fleshy roundness and sumptuous curves. His lines are sparse and almost severe, only softened in this instance by the rich, pure red of the fruit. One might say that popular art has had a strong influence on the creation of Tamayo's art -the strong, vibrant reds and greens taken from fiesta decorations, and the recurrent use of earthen and ochre tones derived from pottery, colors which are also repeated in the varied shades of the very landscape of Mexico.
In Sandías y Naranja the three elegantly executed slices of watermelon seem to float in space, not bound by the limitations of a bowl or a plate, only the glowing sphere of the orange acting as an anchor for the composition. Tamayo's complete identification with his native roots and culture largely precluded the influence of European trends, thus allowing him to concentrate on the essential aspects of his art - to depict the Mexican spirit in all its manyfold nuances. The present painting is a superb example of the master's desire to pay tribute to his people.
Coming from the collection of one of the most distinguished and beloved actresses of the silver screen, this painting holds special meaning. Adored by millions for her unforgettable depictions of characters such as Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady, Princess Anna in Roman Holiday, or the charming Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany's, Audrey Hepburn secured an important place in Hollywood movie history. Beyond her brilliant acting career, Ms. Hepburn made a lasting contribution to the work of UNICEF by acting as a Goodwill Ambassador. She devoted most of her time and energy to this humanitarian task and through it became an inspiration of another kind to the people all over the world. The impact her work made was immeasurable and the passion and authority with which she spoke about the cause helped make children a priority issue of international scope, pointing the way for others to follow.