Heritage to Auction Important Max Ernst Painting!

DALLAS, TEXAS: Heritage Galleries and Auctioneers (HGA) will offer the double-sided painting "Untitled (Still Life/Faces)" by German artist Max Ernst (1891-1976), in their upcoming Fine Arts auction, to be held November 17 & 18, 2005, in their Dallas, Texas headquarters.

"Born in Germany, Ernst initially studied philosophy, but found that his interest in art was greater, and soon turned fully to that passion," said Edmund P. Pillsbury, Ph.D., Senior Expert - Fine Art for HGA. "An early adherent of Dadaism, Ernst was part of the artistic community in the Montparnasse quarter of Paris that was also home to such forward-thinking creators as Man Ray, Pablo Picasso, Marc Chagall, Ezra Pound, Salvador Dali, and Jean-Paul Sartre."

"During his time in Montparnasse," Pillsbury continued, "Ernst was instrumental in the development of the Surrealist movement, and received his first public acclaim in 1938, after a showing of his works in London, sponsored by his patron, Peggy Guggenheim, whom he married several years later. After the outbreak of World War II, he lived in New York City for a time, during which his work was instrumental in the development of the school of Abstract Expressionism. He also lived in Sedona, Arizona for a time, where he developed his Biomorphic landscapes. In 1953, now married to Dorothea Tanning after divorcing Guggenheim, Ernst returned to France, where he died in 1976."

"This unique, double-sided painting, an early work dating from 1912-1915, is a strong example of Ernst's striking style," Pillsbury said. "Hitherto unpublished, the painting comes from a private collection, where it has resided for more than 30 years. Signed by the artist in the lower right, it also bears the nonsensical notation '2 holoeder sulfate silicate picastrate u. zwillinge nach meiner mit wahl stäbchen max ernst.' along the bottom of the piece."

"Untitled (Still Life/Faces)" by Max Ernst carries a pre-auction estimate of $40,000 - $60,000.

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 HeritageArtAuctions.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.

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