Signed Nieman Book - "Horses" - 1979

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Fine Antiquities/Ethnographic Art

By Artemis Gallery

Jul 19, 2018

Set Reminder 2018-07-19 10:00:00 2018-07-19 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Fine Antiquities/Ethnographic Art https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/fine-antiquities-ethnographic-art-3329
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• Lot Description
  LeRoy Neiman (American, 1921-2012), "LeRoy Neiman Horses" leatherbound book w/ original case. Signed in black. Numbered 827 - from edition of 1200 - on second page. Published by Harry N. Abrams, Inc., New York, 1979. LeRoy Neiman is beloved for his lively images of sport and leisure activities. His energetic style stands apart and is immediately recognizable. This book was his homage to the horse. Neiman adored these noble steeds since childhood. On the opening pages of this book, he wrote, "As a youngster, I looked with awe and admiration at the horse's beauty, grace, and strength, but like many other artists-to-be was inspired to draw or paint the animal only after seeing a picture or a work of art representing one." However, after completing his art education, Neiman recognized that painting these animals from life was infinitely more powerful. "I found myself attracted to working from life, on the spot, where the action was taking place…I cannot emphasize enough the importance of getting deep into the drawing and sketching by means of observing the live horse." Size: 14.75" L x 14.75" W (37.5 cm x 37.5 cm)
  
  This book is one of the most comprehensive illustrated sources on horses. If you love horses, you will love Neiman's uncanny penchant for capturing the energetic spirit and personality of these animals, and you will absolutely adore this book! It includes 400 illustrations, photographs, memorabilia, and pages from Neiman's sketchbooks. Gracing the 350 pages are Neiman's depictions of thoroughbreds such as Seattle Slew and Secretariat, the Kentucky Derby, Steeplechase, polo, jockeys, and more. One of my favorite images in this book is depicted on pages 318-319. In this work Neiman presents an Irish bar, identical to the Artist's Proof of this subject by Neiman that is available at Artemis as well, featuring the famous racehorse "Man o' War" as well as a portrait of John F. Kennedy on the back wall. Neiman writes, "There must be a photograph of John F. Kennedy and a picture of the Harp of Erin in every bar in Ireland, and Irish saloons in the United States similarly have their sainted favorites enshrined in back of the bar. Man o' War, whose greatness has assumed mythic proportions, is one of them."
  
  Following World War II, LeRoy Neiman began exploring art in a rather humble pursuit - painting stage sets. From 1946 to 1950, under the GI Bill, he studied at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. For the next 10 years, Neiman taught figure drawing and fashion illustration there. In addition, Neiman sketched for fashion magazines, and in 1954, Hugh Hefner recruited him for Playboy magazine, to which he would contribute for the next 50 years. Neiman created the Femlin character for the Party Jokes page, and also created a feature entitled "Man at His Leisure," where he painted vibrant illustrations depicting his travels to exotic locations.
  
  However, what Neiman became most famous for were his paintings of sports activities and personalities - frequently working on the sidelines of Super Bowls, boxing matches, horse races, and other sporting events. Neiman was in fact the official artist at five Olympiads. As stated on the LeRoy Neiman Foundation website, "Millions of people have watched him at work: on ABC TV coverage of the Olympics, as CBS Superbowl computer artist, and at other major competitions, televised on location with his sketchbook and drawing materials, producing split-second records and highly developed images of what he is witnessing." The passage continued with a quote from Carl J. Weinhardt excerpted from the catalogue of Neiman's 1972 Olympics sketches hosted that same year by the Indianapolis Museum of Art, "Before the camera, such reportage of history and the passing scene was one of the most important functions of painters and draftsmen of all sorts. Mr. Neiman has revived an almost lost and time-honored art form." Next, they cited a Christian Science Monitor (May 2, 1972) article in which Nick Seitz exclaimed that Neiman "has the journalistic talent, as well as the artistic ability, to convey the essence of a game or contestant with great impact, from the Kentucky Derby to Wilt Chamberlain, from the America’s Cup to Muhammad Ali, from the Super Bowl to Bobby Hull."
  
  Provenance: private Boulder, Colorado, USA collection, acquired at The Upstairs Gallery, Long Beach, California, USA on February 7, 1980
  
  All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
  
  A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
  
  We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
  
  #136902

  Condition

  Choice. Truly superb. Signed by the artist in black and numbered 827 - from edition of 1200 - on the 2nd page. Case is in superb condition as well.
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