Man Ray Masterpiece to be Offered by Heritage!

DALLAS, TEXAS: Heritage Galleries and Auctioneers (HGA) will offer the original mixed media construction, "L'Homme-arbe" by American artist Man Ray (1890-1976), in their upcoming Fine Arts auction, to be held November 17 & 18, 2005, in their Dallas, Texas headquarters.

"A member of both the Dadaist and Surrealist schools, Man Ray worked in the fields of painting, sculpture, photography and film," said Scott Barber, Consignment Director for HGA. "He first exhibited his paintings in a one-man show in 1915, and in 1920, he moved to the Montparnesse quarter of Paris, where he revolutionized the art of photography. Some of his more famous subjects included James Joyce, Jean Cocteau and Gertrude Stein."

"It was to Gertrude Stein, the feminist writer, poet, and playwright, that Man Ray dedicated 'L'Homme-arbe,'" Barber continued. "Stein was one of the pre-eminent patrons of the arts in the early 20th century whose patronage helped launch the careers of many avant-garde modern artists, including Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse. She was also a friend of Ray's wife, Juliet Browner, from whose estate this exquisite creation was sold."

"'L'Homme-arbe' is a unique construction composed of a painting on wood attached to a plastic chalkboard." Barber said. "This piece is hung in a wooden wine box with a plexiglas lid. Its title, translated as 'Tree-Man,' can be seen as a Dadaist play on words with the artist's name. Inscribed on the reverse, 'For Gertrude, Man Ray," it is a magnificent example of the groundbreaking work of this important artist.

"L'Homme-arbe" by Man Ray carries a pre-auction estimate of $80,000 - $100,000.

For more information about Heritage's auctions, and a complete record of prices realized, along with full-color, enlargeable photos of each lot, please visit HeritageGalleries.com.

Prospective consignors and sellers of top-end illustration and fine art are invited to call Scott Barber at 1-800-872-6467, ext. 521 to discuss their material. Or visit HeritageGalleries.com and click on the "Sell Now" tab. Or simply email Scott Barber at SBarber@HeritageGalleries.com.

To reserve your copy of any Heritage auction catalog, please contact Nicole Jewell at 1-800-872-6467, ext. 272, or visit HeritageGalleries.com to order by email.