Lowy Frame of Mind: Hammer Galleries
Hammer Galleries
We are happy this month to feature our old friends and colleagues, Hammer Galleries, as they launch their Matisse & Picasso exhibtion, featuring exemplary selections from the two prominent modern masters. The exhibit offers the ideal stage for displaying fabulous period frames from theLowy collection. Lowy and Hammer have been working alongside one another for three generations, and we are proud that this relationship continues to grow and thrive in the installation of this important and exciting showcase of two of the most prominent cultural icons of their time.
This is Hammer Galleries' inaugural exhibition at their new home, a handsome townhouse located at 32 East 67th Street. This beautiful domestic setting allows the viewer to imagine what these great paintings would look like in their own home.
Left to right: Henri Matisse “Le guitariste debout”, 1903, oil on canvas, 21 5/8 x 18 1/8 inches; "Danseuse espagnole", 1901, oil on board, 19 1/2 x 13 1/4 inches; Henri Matisse "Femme au fauteuil", 1919, oil on canvas, 19 1/4 x 17 1/4 inches.
Almost all of the frames in the exhibit have been provided by Lowy. "The relationship betweenHammer Galleries and Lowy goes back over 50 years, since before I was born, and I've been working at Hammer for 35 years. In fact, Victor Hammer attended Larry Shar’s Bar Mitzvah. Lowyprovides much more than framing, it's a one stop shop for us. Across the board, the whole staff, from conservation to fitting to photography, is a pleasure to work with. It has always been a headache free relationship, which is surprising, since I have to admit that I am almost always unreasonable in my expectations. Yet I can't recall a time when Brad has said to me, 'Howard, that's impossible.' You rarely find that kind of service anywhere else. Without a doubt, the team at Lowy is a big part of why our exhibitions look as good as they do." Howard Shaw, President and Director, Hammer Galleries.
Left to right: Henri Matisse "Nu aux jambes croisées", 1936, oil on canvas, 15 x 18 1/10 inches; Henri Matisse, "Jeune fille à la mauresque, robe verte", 1921, oil on canvas, 26 x 21 5/8 inches; Henri Matisse "Jeune femme assise en robe grise", 1942, oil on canvas, 18 1/4 x 15 inches. Rare 17th century hand carved and gilt French frames adorn these textbook examples of Modernism.
Left to right: Pablo Picasso "Le peintre et son modèle", 1964, oil on canvas, 23 6/10 x 31 9/10 inches; Pablo Picasso "Le peintre au chapeau", 1965, oil on canvas, 28 7/10 x 23 8/10 inches; Pablo Picasso "Portrait de Sylvette", 1954, oil on canvas, 36 1/4 x 28 3/4 inches; Pablo Picasso "Portrait d'enfant: Paloma", 1952 oil on gouache-primed paper, 26 x 20 inches. 17th Century black Spanish frames are paired with a variety of Picasso masterworks.
Pablo Picasso "Le joueur de clarinette", 1932, ink and wash on paper, 10 1/4 x 13 inches. A rare 17th century Italian hand carved and faux marble Cassetta frame enhances the rich beauty of this Picasso inkwash.
The exhibition opens Tuesday, November 3, and goes through January 2016, at Hammer Galleries, 32 East 67th Street, New York, NY 10065. They are open Monday through Friday from 9:30am - 5:30pm.
*All artworks by Picasso: © 2015 Estate of Pablo Picasso / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York *All artworks by Matisse: © 2015 Succession H. Matisse / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York
