Hemingway Ernest

Superb Huge Hemingway Photo Taken In Sun Valley

Enormous black and white photo, 10" x 14", and adhered to a board. Near fine with minor surface scuffs to lower right of photo, and with pin holes and corner damage to the board (not affecting the photo). Verso of the board contains the stamp of Jack Mitchell, an American photographer who photographed American artists, dancers, film and theatre performers, musicians and writers.

Hemingway gifted this photo to his close friend, A.E. Hotchner (Ed). Hotchner, a CT resident for most of his life, (now age 102), is an American editor, novelist, playwright, and biographer. He has written many television screenplays as well as a biography of Ernest Hemingway. He co-founded, with Paul Newman, the charity food company Newman's Own. The photo depicts Hemingway wearing his well loved vest, standing on his porch at his Ketchum Idaho home. Undated, however circa 1950's. Provenance: Accompanied by a signed Letter of Authenticity from A.E. Hotchner, and a Signed Letter of Authenticity by John Reznikoff who personally received this photo directly from Hotchner. Both letters are transcribed below and are shown as images within this lot.

The Hemingway home was constructed between 1952 and 1953, and stands as a rare example of highly-intact mid-century architecture in the Sun Valley resort area.

In the spring of 1948, A.E. Hotchner as a 20-something journalist, was assigned by Cosmopolitan to get, from Ernest Hemingway, an article on "The Future of Literature". He never did manage to finagle the predictive think piece from Hemingway --it burgeoned into two substitute short stories and came out "Across the River and Into the Trees", which Cosmo ran in three parts -- but "Hotch" got to know "Papa" and "Papa" came to respect "Hotch". That first interview in 1948 developed into a 14 year friendship. They drank together and oh how they talked! Hemingway trusted Hotchner and opened up to him in Cuba, New York, Paris, Venice, on the Riviera, in Madrid, Sun Valley, and finally at the Mayo Clinic.


An exceptional photo in size and imagery, with a superb association, and phenomenal provenance!



PROVENANCE:

Letter of Authenticity from Hotcher:

" …Date Dec 9, 2019 /

A photo of me and Hemingway Inscribed to me / was given to me by Ernest Hemingway, my dear friend."



Letter of Authenticity from Reznikoff:

"December 10, 2019


To Whom It May Concern:


The following is a memorialization of my meeting with famed author A. E. Hotchner on December 9, 2019.


I have known Hotchner, or "Hotch", as he would have his friends address him, myself included, for nearly 30 years. I first met him through an introduction from my sister, who was helping to launch the Newman's Own brand. Hotchner was partners with Paul Newman on this venture. It's interesting to note that Hotchner had two best friends in his life, first Ernest Hemingway, then Paul Newman. His friendship with Hemingway and certain associated artifacts are the purpose of this letter.


Over the years, I have sold for Hotchner many artifacts related to Hemingway or Newman. I have also appraised many items that Hotchner donated, and even accompanied him to the Library of Congress when Jack Hemingway donated Ernest's first book inscribed to his first wife. Hotchner is nearly 103 years old now, and has lived in Westport, near my office, for many decades. The stories I have concerning him are too many to fill a single letter, but I'm certain it's a chapter in my book, if I ever write one.


I arrived at his house on the morning of December 9, 2019, and while not that mobile, Hotchner was as spry, lucid, and funny as ever. He had communicated to me that he did not plan on living this long, and the expenses of old age were catching up to him. He communicated this in the most dignified and respectful way possible. The items that I picked up on this trip were kept by Hotchner for nearly 60 years and represent those things having to do with Hemingway that he loved most. The photos were inscribed by his pal "Papa" directly to him, and the matador outfit was his favorite because he could clearly see Antonio Ordonez, the greatest bullfighter of all time, wearing this very outfit in photographs from "The Dangerous Summer". While it was a bit sad for me to see him let these treasures go, I assured him that I would provide wonderful photocopies for his entire family.


What the future holds for Hotch I am not sure, but one thing I'm positive about is I love that man.


Yours truly,

John Reznikoff"

Biography of A.E. Hotchner:


Aaron Edward "A.E." Hotchner is an American editor, novelist, playwright, and biographer


Hotchner was born in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1917 the son of Sally (née Rossman), a Sunday school administrator, and Samuel Hotchner, a jeweler and lawyer. He attended Soldan High School. In 1940, he graduated from Washington University in St. Louis with degrees in both history (A.B.) and law (J.D.). He was admitted to the Missouri State Bar in 1941, and briefly practiced law in St. Louis in 1941–42. After the outbreak of World War II, he served in the U.S. Army Air Corps as a journalist, attaining the rank of major. When the war was over, he decided to forgo law and pursue a career in writing.


Hotchner has been an editor, biographer, novelist and playwright. In 1948, he met Ernest Hemingway, and the two were close friends until Hemingway's death in 1961. Hotchner is perhaps best known for Papa Hemingway, his 1966 biography of Hemingway, whose work he had also adapted for plays and television.


Hotchner's play "Sweet Prince" was produced Off-Broadway in 1982, at the Theater Off-Park, starring Keir Dullea and Ian Abercrombie.


The 1993 film, "King of the Hill", directed by Steven Soderbergh, is a screen adaptation of Hotchner's 1973 autobiographical novel of the same name. A Depression-era, bildungsroman memoir, it tells the story of a boy struggling to survive on his own in a hotel in St. Louis after his mother is committed to a sanatorium with tuberculosis. His father, a German immigrant and traveling salesman working for the Hamilton Watch Company, is off on long trips from which the boy cannot be certain he will return.


In 1982, with his friend and neighbor, actor Paul Newman, Hotchner founded Newman's Own, Inc. All profits from this successful line of food products and other ventures are donated to charities.


In 1988, Hotchner and Newman also co-founded the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, a residential summer camp and year-round center for seriously ill children located in Ashford, Connecticut. The original camp was later expanded to become a number of other Hole in the Wall Camps at other locations in the U.S., Ireland, France, and Israel. The camps serve 13,000 children every year, free of charge.


Hotchner has been honored with a star on the St. Louis Walk of Fame.


He now resides in Westport, Connecticut,

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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