CONSTANTINE KLUGE CHATEAU DE MONT L'EVEQUE OIL PAINTING

Constantine Kluge
French, 1912-2003
Le Chateau de Mont l'Eveque C1970
Signed: C. Kluge - (lr) Titled: Mont l'Eveque(in artist hand) in black felt tip marker.
Oil on Canvas
39 x 58 inches (artwork) / 45-1/2 x 64 inches (frame)
Condition report: Very good to excellent; 99.5% original surface paint. Very minor crazing and edge wear. Otherwise excellent.

ADDITIONAL NOTES: Housed in its original heavy museum /size gilt wooden frame with medium sized linen liner and original brass artist name plate: CONSTANTINE KLUGE

Comparable #1: Matsart Auctioneers & Appraisers, 4/13/2016; Lot: 91 with a presale estimate of $6,000 ? 8,000 SOLD: 18,450 USD

Comparable #2: Doyle; 5/20/2008; Lot: 2075 with a presale estimate of $6,000 ? 8,000 SOLD: 10,625 USD

PROVENANCE: Acquired directly from the Artist in 1975 by the previous owner's family and thence by descent.

LOT NOTES: Original Wally Findlay Gallery label affixed to original cardboard backing.

ARTIST BIO:
Born of Russian parents in Riga, he emigrated to Manchuria in 1919. There he studied the local dialect which deepened his fascination with Chinese calligraphy. Kluge graduated from the French College in Shanghai and at age 19 decided to travel to France to study architecture.

At the Paris Fine Arts Academy he placed first of 400 in a drawing competition for the entrance course and continued in the architecture section until 1937.

Returning to Shanghai, he devoted himself to art, exhibiting his oil paintings of the Chinese countryside, seagoing junkets, and portraits. On a visit to Peking during the summer of 1943, he made the acquaintance of world-wide known scientist and philosopher Teilhard de Chardin, and drew his portrait. He then practiced architecture in Hongkong but returned to painting in oil full-time, after a year.

Back in Paris, France in 1950, he exhibited in various galleries, and in 1962 was awarded the gold medal at the Salon des Artistes Francais. He work was exhibited every year at reputed Left-Bank galleries; in 1965 he was part of Artist Witnesses of their Time.

From 1963 onward he exhibited at the Wally Findlay Galleries. Three times in Paris and in New York, Chicago, Palm Beach and Beverly Hills.

Kluge published his autobiography in 1988, illustrated with 100 of his paintings. In this book he analyzed the theories of his friend Teilhard de Chardin.

Excellent.