Man Ray painting sells for thousands

An abstract painting by leading American artist Man Ray (1890-1976) has recently sold for a total of £17,500 at a Cotswold auction.

The painting measuring just 31 by 22cm and dating from circa 1960 was discovered in the home of a Worcestershire-based private client. It had been inherited by the owner from their grandmother Jacqueline Goddard, (1911-2003) who was the free-spirited model to the artist. The artwork was presumably a gift.

Man Ray developed his ‘Natural Painting’ techniques in the 1950’s where the paint was applied to the base board and then sandwiched. By lifting the top layer off, the unpredictable composition was revealed. He experimented with this technique through to the latter years of his life.

Following investigations reminiscent of ‘Fake or Fortune’, with a solid provenance, the work was authenticated and given the seal of approval by the Paris-based Man Ray Expertise Committee. It will be included in the latest catalogue Raisonne currently in preparation.

Estimated at £7,000-10,000 the work garnered much pre-sale interest. After an intense bidding battle by buyers on the phone and online, the gavel eventually fell to the former, a European buyer for a total of £17,500 at Moreton in Marsh auctioneers Kinghams.