Lot 59: Amazona

Antoine Tzapoff (French B. 1945) Amazona signed and dated 'A. Tzapoff 1985-86' (lower right) and signed, dated and inscribed 'CE PORTRAIT DE MARIA FELIX HONORE UNE PROMESSE DE SA DISCIPLINE. A. TZAPOFF. SEPT 86' (reverse) acrylic on canvas 62 x 46½ in. (158 x 118 cm.) Painted in 1985-86.

Executed after a design by both María Félix and Antoine Tzapoff, the silver frame was made from twenty-eight kilos of silver by Odilon Marmolero, an important silversmith in Mexico. During the creation of the frame María would visit the shop each week to check on the progress.
Further, María insisted that all the elements surrounding her in the painting had to do with Asia: An Indian rhinoceros, Chinese garb, and a Chinese diadem.