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'Art is liberating' Austrian by birth, Swiss by circumstance and international by reputation, Maximilian Schell was a distinguished actor, director, writer and producer. Indeed, Schell was one of the most successful non-English speaking actors in the history of American cinema. He will perhaps be best remembered for his Oscar-winning performance in Stanley Kramer's Judgment at Nuremberg (1961). However, his more overlooked yet equally lasting legacy lies in his assemblage of an unparalleled collection of Post-War & Contemporary art. Schell's success was not exclusive to German roles. His repertoire ranged from Venezuelan leader Simón Bolívar to Russian emperor Peter the Great, and a Pharaoh to Einstein and Lenin. His role as the latter in the television film Stalin (1992) earned him a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor. His title-role in Shakespeare's Hamlet directed by legend Gustav Gründgens, is considered to rank alongside Laurence Olivier as 'one of the greatest Hamlets ever'. In 2002, Schell produced his most intimate film, My sister Maria, a documentary about his sister, noted actress Maria Schell. In the film, he chronicles her life, career and eventual diminished capacity due to illness. Maria's affected mental state made it difficult for her to distinguish between fiction and reality, a state of being that was to bring her into debt and force Schell to part with some of his most beloved paintings in order to save their childhood home. Schell's ultimate parting with his collection, at this time, was balanced by the knowledge that they would bring delight to their new owners. Having been surrounded by the arts, theatre and literature as a child born into an artistic family (Schell's mother was herself an actress and his parents fostered friendships with numerous contemporary painters), Schell carried an affection for the arts throughout his life. It is no surprise, therefore, that in addition to painting vocationally he eventually developed this passion by amassing an enviable collection of his own. The depths of this passion he held for the arts is revealed by the heartfelt expression that 'art is liberating'. In particular, Schell maintained an unrelenting pursuit of perfection, shown in his infatuation with Josef Albers' own lifelong experimentation with colour. Schell first encountered Josef Albers' work at the Sidney Janis Gallery in the early 1970s, where, every two years, Albers would present his latest 'platters to serve colour' (Albers, quoted in N. Fox Weber, Josef Albers, p. 10). Schell instantly recognised a level of sophistication in Albers' subtlety, akin to his own ideals as a director and actor. As a collector, Schell avoided fashionable artwork in search of timeless masterpieces. When Schell started to collect Albers' work from these exhibitions, he was contributing to an already impressive collection which included works by Paul Klee, Mark Rothko and Jean Dubuffet. It was Sidney Janis who finally introduced Schell to the artist whose work had so captivated him, sparking a friendship that would last until Albers' death in 1976. Maximilian Schell had a unique understanding of both Albers' work and mentality. Indeed it was Albers' commitment to attaining perfection which aligned with Schell's own that would tie the pair together as they embarked on their long lasting friendship. By the end of Albers' life, Schell was both a close friend and to some extent a heroic father figure. With his sharpness of eye, the intimacy of their relationship and the understanding of Albers' goals, Schell amassed a collection of unique quality and integrity. Indeed, this was the largest private collection of the artist's work to have been formed during Albers' lifetime, a tribute to the mutual passion for art. THE MAXIMILIAN SCHELL ESTATE

Arnulf Rainer (b. 1929)

Maximilian Schell (from the series Fest Spieler)

Details

Arnulf Rainer (b. 1929)
Maximilian Schell (from the series Fest Spieler)
signed and dedicted 'für Maximilian Schell A Rainer' (lower right)
mixed media over a photograph
29 x 40.5 cm.
Executed in 2001

Provenance

A gift from the artist to Maximilian Schell.

Exhibited

Vienna, Galerie Ulysses.

Special Notice

Artist's Resale Right ("Droit de Suite"). Artist's Resale Right Regulations 2006 apply to this lot, the buyer agrees to pay us an amount equal to the resale royalty provided for in those Regulations, and we undertake to the buyer to pay such amount to the artist's collection agent.

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Lisa Snijders

lsnijders@christies.com 0031205755957

Maximilian Schell (from the series Fest Spieler)

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