Lot Essay
"The spectacle of the sky overwhelms me. I'm overwhelmed when I see the crescent of the moon or the sun in an immense sky. In my paintings, as a matter of fact, there are tiny shapes in great empty spaces" (Miró: I work like a gardener, cited in exh. cat., "Joan Miró", 1893-1993, Fundaió Joan Miró, Barcelona 1993, p. 423).
The present lot is dedicated to lawyer Ralph F. Colin, a major collector of Modern art in the twentieth century. Ralph's collecting journey began at a young age with baseball cards and stamps, which eventually financed his exquisite collection of Modern art. Ralph and his wife Georgia Colin collected works by Picasso, Matisse, Miró, and Modigliani in the 1930s, before those artists reached commercial appeal. Ralph founded the Art Dealers Association of America, Inc. in 1962, and was a member and trustee of various museums and universities throughout his career. Ultimately, Ralph and Georgia were connoisseurs of the New York art and culture scene in every facet.
The present lot is dedicated to lawyer Ralph F. Colin, a major collector of Modern art in the twentieth century. Ralph's collecting journey began at a young age with baseball cards and stamps, which eventually financed his exquisite collection of Modern art. Ralph and his wife Georgia Colin collected works by Picasso, Matisse, Miró, and Modigliani in the 1930s, before those artists reached commercial appeal. Ralph founded the Art Dealers Association of America, Inc. in 1962, and was a member and trustee of various museums and universities throughout his career. Ultimately, Ralph and Georgia were connoisseurs of the New York art and culture scene in every facet.