A second edition of “A Moroccan Spring” will be organized on May 28 in Marrakech, announced the international auction house Artcurial.
A press release from the house specifies that during this sale, divided into two chapters “Majorelle & his Contemporains” and “Moroccan and International Modern & Contemporary Art”, Artcurial presents 132 lots where artists such as Majorelle, Dinet, Azema, Gharbaoui.
Thus, this session unveils rare and historic works, including one by Mohamed Melehi, entitled Flamme, the same source reports, specifying that this unpublished canvas of museum quality, produced in 1969, has been kept in a private collection since its creation. Presented for the first time at auction, it inaugurates the series of famous Flames developed by the artist.
Another first at auction, Jacques Majorelle’s “Sleeping Friends” produced in the 1930s. This audacious and sensual work is estimated at 2,600,000 – 3,600,000 MAD / 250,000 – 350,000 €.
Works by Dinet, a collection by Azema and many sculptures come, among other things, to enrich this second spring edition. An edition that does not fail to celebrate other great artists such as Gharbaoui, Glaoui or Rabi.
“After a long and difficult period of pandemic, we are delighted to find our collectors at La Mamounia, whom we thank for their loyalty”, underlined, on this occasion, the director of Artcurial Morocco, Olivier Berman, quoted in the press release, adding that for this second edition of Un Printemps Marocain, “we are very happy to present this historical and museum work by Mohamed Melehi, Flame, produced in 1969 and remained unknown to the public until this day”.
Majorelle & his Contemporaries
In this chapter, four works by Jacques Majorelle are offered for sale. Among his favorite subjects, we find his emblematic kasbahs and souk scenes, like his oil on canvas, Souk a Marrakech, estimated 650,000 – 850,000 MAD / 60,000 – 80,000 €, illustrating his love for light and games of contrasts.
Presented for the first time at auction, Les Amies endormies by Jacques Majorelle was produced in the 1930s. This exceptional and sensual work is estimated at 2,600,000 – 3,600,000 MAD / 250,000 – 350,000 €. This composition belongs to a very important chapter in the work of Jacques Majorelle, that known as the “Black Nudes”, which began in 1931.
In this same chapter, six works by Dinet are proposed. Rest in the shade, Bou-Saâda, 1888 is estimated at 1,800,000 – 2,500,000 MAD / 180,000 – 250,000 €. A place in Bou-Saâda, 1894 is estimated at 1,800,000 – 2,500,000 MAD / 180,000 – 250,000 €. E tienne Dinet strives to transcribe the city of Bou-Saâda, its light, its squares and its inhabitants who fascinate him. It rightly shares the golden luminosity that emanates from this special place for the artist and where he would like to be buried.
Moroccan and International Modern & Contemporary Art
This session pays tribute to a panel of renowned artists. We discover there a major and historical work by Mohamed Melehi, entitled Flamme and estimated 1,500,000 – 2,500,000 MAD / 150,000 – 250,000 €. This unpublished canvas, kept in a private collection since its creation, was produced in 1969, an important year in Melehi’s artistic career. Presented for the first time at auction, it inaugurates the series of famous Flames developed by the artist.
In this same chapter, a strong work by Gharbaoui estimated at 280,000 – 350,000 MAD / 28,000 – 35,000 € is also offered for sale. “The quest for light is essential for me. The light does not deceive. She washes our eyes”, Jilali Gharbaoui.
A fine collection of gouaches and drawings by Jacques Azema is added to this session with, among others, Hammam, a pastel on cardboard estimated at 35,000 – 45,000 MAD / 3,500 – 4,500 €. Works by Glaoui, Gharbaoui and Rabi will also be honoured.
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