Description:

William Anzalone (American/Texas, b. 1935), "Circus #1", oil on canvas, signed lower right, inscribed, partial "Meredith Long & Company, Houston, TX" and handwritten labels on stretcher, 30 in. x 40 in., unframed. Note: Fascinated by mathematics and physics, William Anzalone began his creative life as an engineer at MIT, but upon discovering the constrictions of that life, he shifted into the neighboring field of architecture as a way to allow his creativitry to come forward. While attending architecture classes at the Pratt Institue, a professor asked his students to: “…examine how the eye interprets visual information in a 3D world and how 3D space is represented in art.” Anzalone took this thought to heart, and as his architecure carrer unfolded, art played a larger and larger role. When he felt the time was right, he left the field to become an artist full time. Anzalone takes as the foundation of his art the ideas put forward by the impressionists, post-impressionists and tonalists. Paul Gaugin’s work Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going? provided him his most notable inspiration – vivid colors that have little bearing on the actual objects depicted. Concerning his use of color, he states: “I don’t paint the color in accordance with nature/reality, I paint according to feeling and imagination.” Typically Anzalone’s works have a clear focus, a specific landscape view or a portrait, however the Circus series of paintings was an experiment in compositon. The lot on offer here is a fantastic example of the exercise. He zooms out to include the entire scene, giving the eye multiple focal points and the viewer an overall impression of geometric patterns at first glance. He then pulls the viewer in to “get stuck in the painting” in order to discover the myriad small details and activities that inhabit the larger whole. This series is Anzalone’s closest brush with pure abstraction, making the paintings a unique rarity within his important oeuvre.

  • Condition: If Condition is NOT stated in the description of the lot, the absence of a condition report does not indicate the lot is free of damage or condition issues. Available Condition Reports will appear as an additional image. Condition Reports and photographs may be requested on items until the Wednesday prior to the auction. Bid accordingly. All sales are final, no returns are accepted on the basis of condition.

Shipping Options

Invaluable Shipping

  • Expert Care packing and Shipping
  • Shipment Protection
  • Real-time tracking

Arrange your own

  • You will coordinate with us to arrange your own shipping

Local pickup

  • You will coordinate with us and arrange pick up time after payment.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

June 15, 2023 1:00 PM CDT
New Orleans, LA, US

Neal Auction Company

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 28% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $2,999 $100
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $29,999 $1,000
$30,000 $49,999 $5,000
$50,000 $99,999 $10,000
$100,000 + $20,000