Tuesday 9 September 2025

Lot 241

Leonor Fini, Argentinean/Italian 1907-1996 - Portrait of Aurelia; ink wash and pastel on paper,...

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Lot 241

Leonor Fini, 
Argentinean/Italian 1907-1996 - 
Portrait of Aurelia; 
ink wash and pastel on paper,...

Price Realised: £5,773

Estimate: £2,000 - £4,000

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Price realised is hammer price plus fees (31.2% Buyers Premium inclusive of VAT).

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Lot 241

Description

Leonor Fini
Argentinean/Italian 1907-1996 - 

Portrait of Aurelia; 

ink wash and pastel on paper, signed lower right 'Leonor Fini', 35.2 x 26.3 cm (unframed) (ARR) 

Provenance: 
Private Collection and thence by descent 

Note: 
a certificate can be purchased from the Estate of Leonor Fini through Galerie Minsky, Paris. 

In 1945, Fini began a series of 'imaginary portraits' of women in watercolor and ink which she called 'Aurelia' in tribute to the poems by Gérard de Nerval, for which she was very fond. A limited edition book with etchings by Fini was published in 1960.

Fini was a vitally important iconoclastic figure of the twentieth century. While rejecting the Surrealist's founder Andre Breton, she regularly exhibited with Henri Cartier-Bresson, Georges Bataille, Leonora Carrington, Joseph Cornell, Salvador Dalí, Max Ernst, Man Ray, and Meret Oppenheim and was included in the Museum of Modern Art's groundbreaking “Fantastic Art, Dada and Surrealism” exhibition in 1936.

Most often drawing female figures, she has said her work always has an auto-biographical element.

The present lot has been rediscovered after being found in the current owner's late sisters possessions, who travelled around the continent in the 1960s. This work was likely acquired during that time.

Buyer's Premium

The buyer shall pay the hammer price together with a premium thereon of 26% up to £20,000 (31.2% inclusive of VAT), 25% from £20,001 - £500,000 (30% inclusive of VAT), 20% from £500,001 thereafter (24% inclusive of VAT). The premium price is subject to VAT at the standard rate.

VAT
VAT is not charged on the hammer price unless it is stated that there is 'VAT applicable on the hammer price at the end of the description. Buyer's premium is subject to VAT.
(ARR) - ARTIST'S RESALE RIGHT

Qualifying living artists and the descendants of artists deceased within the last 70 years are entitled to receive a re-sale royalty each time their work is bought through an auction house or art market professional.

It applies to lots with hammer value over £1,000 as follows:
0 to £50,000 - 4%
£50,000.01 to £200,000 - 3%
£200,000.01 to £350,000 - 1%
£350,000.01 to £500,000 - 0.5%
Exceeding £500,000 - 0.25%
ARR is capped at £12,500

Please note ARR is calculated in euros. Auctioneers will apply current exchange rates.

Export of goods

Buyers intending to export goods should ascertain whether an export licence is required before bidding. Export licences are issued by Arts Council England and application forms can be obtained from its Export Licensing Unit. Details can be found on the ACE website www.artscouncil.org.uk or by phoning ACE on 020 7973 5188. The need for import licences varies from country to country and you should acquaint yourself with all relevant local requirements and provisions before bidding. The refusal of any such licences shall not permit the cancelling of any sale nor allow any delay in making full payment for the lot.

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