This Week: HELMUT NEWTON: PROVOCATEUR Photographs from the Collection of Simon de Pury- Phillips has announced the sale of 50 photographs by Helmut Newton from the esteemed private collection of Simon de Pury, to be offered in the London Photographs auction on 16th May.
Auctioneer, art dealer, curator, and photographer, de Pury is one of the leading figures in the art world and a prominent collector of Newton’s work. Having enjoyed a fruitful and long-lasting friendship with Newton over the years, he amassed an incredible collection of works by the celebrated photographer. Bringing to the fore a meticulously curated group of Newton’s work acquired over the last three decades, this sale marks a historic moment in the photography market. HELMUT NEWTON: PROVOCATEUR Photographs from the Collection of Simon de Pury will be exhibited to the public at 30 Berkeley Square from 10th to 16 thMay in the lead-up to the auction.
Simon de Pury, said,
As a young man, I found fashion magazines infinitely more inspiring than art magazines. Whenever I found an image that really struck me, I would check the name of the photographer and it was invariably Helmut Newton. Years later, Helmut invited me to visit him, and I instantly fell in love with him and his wife June, who was an outstanding photographer working under the name of Alice Springs. From that moment onwards they became some of the dearest and closest friends I have been blessed to have had in this life. Helmut asked me to represent him, and it became a wonderful collaboration. We produced amazing exhibitions together and I had the chance to acquire a number of his photographs for my own collection. I feel now is the time to pass these works on so that other collectors can derive from them the same pleasure they have given me. I love Helmut’s work as much today as I did when I first saw it. Alongside Andy Warhol, Helmut is the artist who has had the greatest influence on contemporary culture.
Vanessa Hallett, Deputy Chairwoman, Americas, and Worldwide Head of Photographs, and Peter Sumner, Deputy Chairman, Europe, and Senior International Specialist, Modern & Contemporary Art, said
The Collection of Simon de Pury stands as an unparalleled tribute to the legacy of Helmut Newton and is the most distinctive collection of Newton photographs to grace the market in recent memory. The works in this sale demonstrate the remarkable depth and breadth of Newton’s practice and capture the essence of his distinctive eye for fashion, his celebrity portraits, and even rare glimpses of his landscapes and seascapes. This is a true treasure trove for fine art enthusiasts and collectors alike. Our journey with Simon de Pury has been inspiring, from working side-by-side during his tenure as owner and chairman of Phillips de Pury to our collaborations with him as a curator, collector and charity auctioneer. It is an honour for Phillips to present these extraordinary works at auction. They
are a testament to the enduring allure of Newton’s artistry and Simon’s visionary taste.
Simon de Pury’s fascination with Helmut Newton’s photography traces back to his earliest encounters with Newton’s distinctive images on the covers of fashion magazines. Years later, de Pury orchestrated a series of lectures, for which he invited creative luminaries to speak. Among them was Newton. Their initial contact over the phone ahead of the lecture series blossomed into a personal invitation to de Pury from Newton to visit him and his wife, June Newton, at their home in Monte Carlo. This visit sparked a profound and enduring friendship between them, which spanned decades. Subsequently, de Pury went on to represent Newton, leading to years of collaboration and a lifelong friendship.
Leading this group is Newton’s instantly recognisable Saddle II, a rare and extraordinary image and print. Also included is Leaving Las Vegas, which de Pury has fondly referred to as a phenomenal example of Newton’s exceptional landscape work. Leaving Las Vegas was featured in de Pury & Luxembourg’s Sex and Landscapes exhibition in Zurich in 2001 alongside two epic seascapes taken from his hometown of Monte Carlo which are also included in the sale.
Further highlights of the sale are Woman into Man, Paris and Woman Being Filmed, Paris, both evocative and distinct examples of Newton’s early work. Included among the portraits in this sale is the celebrated 1976 portrait of Catherine Deneuve, along with iconic portraits of Mick Jagger, Cindy Crawford, and David Bowie.
Photographs & Helmut Newton: Provocateur, Auction: 16th May Phillips
Auction viewing: 10th – 16th May
