London – Known for his enigmatic works, full of colour and vibrancy, Shafic Abboud (1926-2004) was one of the most well-known 20th century Lebanese painters. Abboud’s colossal 1984 tryptich, Villa des Iris, which has an estimate of £300,000-500,000, is one of the most important abstract artworks from the Arab world. The work now leads Bonhams’ Modern and Contemporary Middle Eastern Art Sale on 15 November.
The largest composition by Abboud ever to be offered at auction, Villa des Iris was painted at the height of the artist’s career. After a prolonged period of depression that coincided with the outbreak of the civil war in Lebanon, the 1980s marked a rebirth in Abboud’s career in which his work experienced a renewed sense of vigour and colour.
Born near Bikfaya, Abboud studied at the Lebanese Academy of Fine Arts then at the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris, moving amongst and working alongside the likes of Jean Metzinger (1883–1956), Fernand Léger (1881–1955), and André Lhote (1885–1962).
Nima Sagharchi, Group Head of Middle Eastern, Islamic and South Asian Art, commented: “Villa des Iris was exhibited at the esteemed 1985 Salon d’Automne at the Grand Palais in Paris as a tribute to Roger Van Gindertael, close friend of Abboud and celebrated art-critic. The tryptic is emblematic of the colourful abstraction which established Abboud as one of the most lauded Lebanese artists of the modern era. We’re honoured to have the opportunity to present this triptych in our forthcoming sale.”
The sale also features a strong selection of works by Omar El-Nagdi (Egypt, 1931-2019), capturing the diverse range of his style. Two of the works, including Alef Lam Mim, 2008 (estimate: £40,000-60,000), are being sold directly from the artist’s estate and showcase El-Nagdi’s experimentations with the aesthetic and conceptual dimensions of Arabic letterforms. This movement, broadly defined as “Hurufiyya”, draws upon the historical importance of calligraphy in Islamic cultures, then deconstructing and altering the Arabic letters to be included in abstract artworks.
Additional highlights of the sale include:
- Kadhim Hayder (Iraq, 1932-1985), The Martyr, 1969, oil on wood panel. Estimate: £120,000-180,000
- Adam Henein (Egypt, 1929-2020), The Goat, 1965, bronze. Estimate: £70,000-100,000
- Omar El-Nagdi (Egypt, 1931-2019), Le Grand Cavalier, 1997. Estimate: £60,000-100,000
- Shakir Hassan Al Said (Iraq, 1925-2004), Untitled (Jidar), 1987, oil on canvas. Estimate: £60,000-100,000
- Charles Hossein Zenderoudi (Iran, born 1937), TEKRARRE, 1985, acrylic on canvas. Estimate: £80,000-100,000
