a. Los Arnolfini-3 dated and signed '64 Botero' (lower right), and titled 'LOS ARNOLFINI-3' (lower left) oil on canvas 38 x 39 in. (96.5 x 99 cm.) Painted in 1964. b. French Poodle signed and dated 'Botero 65' (lower right), signed and dated again and titled (on the reverse) oil on canvas 18 x 17 in. (46 x 43.5 cm.) Painted in 1965. Two in one lot. (2)

Botero's longtime fascination with European painting during what has been described as the "classical period" of his career, led to a series of fascinating works based on masterpieces by Italian and Flemish masters.

The few versions by Botero of Jan van Eyck's The Arnolfini Portrait, 1434, in the National Gallery in London, remain prime examples of his work from the 60's, which catapulted the artist to international fame.

Botero's rendition of the Arnolfini, as seen in the present lot, is the most economical- and perhaps the sweetest- of all, as he has omitted narrative elements such as the chandelier, the mirror and the dog from the original painting, to concentrate on the couple who projects domesticity as a timeless ideal.

Another painting, French Poodle, dated a year later, was paired by the present owner decades ago to complement this scene and it is offered here as a companion piece.