SOLD! for $7,040.00.
(Note: Prices realized include a buyer's premium.)
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Selling with Case- Low Estimate: $2,800.00
- High Estimate: $3,200.00
- Realized: $7,040.00
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Monumental Helen La France (American/Kentucky, 1919-2020) double sided oil on canvas painting, depicting a horizontally oriented African landscape on one side and a vertically oriented Equestrian scene on the other. One side depicts a large African watering hole with various animals clustered around it, including elephants, lions, flamingos, rhinos, cheetahs, gazelles, zebras and giraffes. In the middle ground, human figures gather in a line headed by hunters with spears, and a cheetah pursues gazelles across rolling hills with a mountain in the distant background. Signed lower right "Helen LaFrance". The other side depicts a fox hunting scene, presumably in Kentucky, with a rider atop his horse and four hounds, with white picket fence against a background of pink, red and orange trees. Unsigned. Housed in a simple wood frame. Sight: 33 3/4" H x 81 3/4" W. Framed: 35 3/4" H x 83 3/4" W. Biography: "Self-taught African American artist Helen LaFrance was born on a Kentucky farm and began painting in her 40s. She is known for her "memory paintings", drawn from her recollections of life growing up in the rural South. Several museums and private collectors, including Oprah Winfrey, own examples of her work." (Source: "Helen LaFrance Folk Art Memories" by Kathy Moses). Helen Lafrance died November 22, 2020, in a Mayfield, Kentucky nursing home at the age of 101. Note: a similar, but smaller Helen LaFrance African scene was sold by this auction house Oct. 23, 2021. Both it, and this painting – along with the two LaFrance portraits in this sale – were acquired by the consignor directly from the artist, who was a personal friend and patron of Helen LaFrance.
PROVENANCE: Provenance: Private Kentucky collection.
CONDITION: African scene: Overall darkening to varnish layer, some blistering and drip to varnish. Paint flaking and losses to upper right margin and corner, largest 1 1/2". Lower margin with scattered minute losses/paint flakes. Equestrian scene: Raw canvas edge from reverse painting. Overall light grime, some dark spots and scratches in sky area.
