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Lot 30: LEO BENSEMANN Untitled (Portrait)

Est: $25,000 NZD - $35,000 NZDPassed
Webb’s – Specialist Auctioneers’Auckland, New ZealandAugust 09, 2021

Item Overview

Description

Leo Bensemann

Untitled (Portrait)

c1934

oil on canvas

270 x 220mm

 

PROVENANCE

Private collection, Canterbury. Gifted by bequest, c2003; Collection of Lawrence Baigent and Robert Erwin, Wellington.

 

Leo Bensemann – Untitled (Portrait)
Essay by PETER SIMPSON
 

Within the Bensemann family this painting was thought to be Leo Bensemann’s very first portrait in oils. Lawrence Baigent, Bensemann’s close friend who owned the picture, also thought so. Bensemann seldom dated his early pictures so it is impossible to fully verify this story, but assuming it is true the date of the painting is probably 1934. In Portraits Masks & Fantasy Figures (2005), by Caroline Otto, Bensemann’s daughter, the earliest dated portraits are c. 1934 and 1935, so presumably the untitled portrait is contemporary with the earlier of these, hence 1934 as an educated guess.

 

Prior to this Bensemann was primarily a graphic artist. He showed talent in drawing from a young age, winning a prize at Nelson College. When he moved to Christchurch around 1931 (aged 19) he attempted to establish himself first as a caricaturist, contributing pen and ink drawings to various publications such as The New Zealand Artists Annual. Another early interest was ink drawings for bookplates, in those days a popular medium for graphic artists. He also began producing narrative illustrations early on, such as his frontispiece for the Caxton Press publication, Another Argo (1934), which culminated in the masterpiece of his graphic art, Fantastica: Thirteen Drawings (Caxton, 1937). Another mode at which he excelled early in his career was watercolour landscapes strongly influenced by Japanese woodcuts by Hiroshige and Hokusai to the extent that he even signed his name vertically in imitation of Japanese practice. Writing to Pat Lawlor, a collector of bookplates, in 1934 Bensemann signalled a new development: ‘The other branches of my art, as it were, gently but firmly progress. I hope to have some presentable paintings to exhibit as soon as possible’ ¹ And in a letter two years later in 1936, he told Lawlor: ‘nowadays I spend far more time painting than I ever did with black and white…This is not because my interest has waned at all but simply that painting when things are sorted out is my medium’ ². The transition to painting had taken place.

 

Within a year or two Bensemann had gravitated to painting portraits of family members and friends such as Rita Angus, Lawrence Baigent and Denis Glover, as well as many self-portraits; but there was a transitional phase, around 1934- 37, when many of his portraits depicted imaginary figures or persons out of history or literature. Almost certainly the present portrait depicts not a ‘real’ person but someone imaginary, such as, for example, a character from a Jacobean tragedy such as Tourneur’s The Revenger’s Tragedy. This is suggested by the necklace worn by the dark and somewhat troubled-looking figure which is more like costume jewellery for a character in an historical play than everyday wear for a young man in the 1930s. The best known of Bensemann’s ‘imaginary’ portraits are St. Francis and St. Olaf, c. 1937. After 1937 he turned exclusively to portraits of contemporaries.

 

Someone once remarked of Bensemann that whatever he took up he was ‘expert from the word go’. Such is the case with this portrait. If it is indeed his first ever portrait it is astonishingly accomplished. The face emerges from the dark background and clothing with extraordinary realism, the subject’s features – eyebrows, eyes, nose, mouth, cheeks and chin firmly and convincingly delineated. It was a brilliant beginning and a strong sign of things to come.

 

1 Peter Simpson, Fantastica: The World of Leo Bensemann, AUP, 2011, p. 20.

2 Ibid.

 

Dimensions

270 x 220mm

Artist or Maker

Medium

oil on canvas

Literature

Caroline Otto, Leo Bensemann: Portraits, masks and fantasy figures (Nelson: Nikau Press, 2005), 13.

Provenance

Private collection, Canterbury. Gifted by bequest, c2003; Collection of Lawrence Baigent and Robert Erwin, Wellington.

Payment & Shipping

Payment

Accepted forms of payment: American Express, COD (cash on delivery), MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Other, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

SHIPPING
For shipping both national and international we recommend the services of Pack and Send Ltd, who work closely with our business to enable the safe return of your new purchase.
All costs associated with the freight of your goods (packaging, shipping, consumables etc) are to be paid by the purchaser, in addition to the winning bid.

Details for Pack and Sends are listed below, or please feel free to organise another contractor of your choice.

Pack and Send Ltd
+64 9 909 9099
aucklandcity@packsend.co.nz
Contact: Neel

COLLECTION
Purchases are to be taken away at the buyer's expense immediately after the sale once payment in full has been made. If this is not done, Mosgreen-Webb's will not be responsible if the lot is lost stolen damaged or destroyed. Any payment by cheque will not be considered paid until the payment has cleared. Any items not collected within seven days of the auction may be subject to a storage and insurance fee. A receipted invoice must be produced prior to delivery of any lot.

Auction Details

Works of Art

by
Webb’s – Specialist Auctioneers’
August 09, 2021, 06:30 PM NZST

33a Normanby Rd Mt Eden, Auckland, 1024, NZ

Terms

Buyer's Premium

17.5%

Bidding Increments

From:To:Increment:
$0$499$20
$500$999$50
$1,000$1,999$100
$2,000$4,999$200
$5,000$9,999$500
$10,000$19,999$1,000
$20,000$49,999$2,000
$50,000$99,999$5,000
$100,000$199,999$10,000
$200,000$499,999$20,000
$500,000+$50,000

Terms & Conditions

Terms & Conditions For Buyers

1. BIDDING
The highest bidder shall be the purchaser subject to the auctioneer having the right to refuse the bid of any person. Should any dispute arise as to the bidding the lot in dispute will be immediately put up for sale again at the preceding bid or the auctioneer may declare the purchaser which declaration shall be conclusive. No person shall advance less as a bid than the sum nominated by the auctioneer. A bid may be withdrawn before the auctioneer declares that bidding on a lot is closed.
2. RESERVES
All lots are sold subject to the right of the seller or his agent to impose a reserve.
3. REGISTRATION
Purchasers shall complete a bidding card before the sale giving their own correct name address and telephone number. It is accepted by bidders that the supply of false information on a bidding card shall be interpreted as deliberate fraud.
4. BUYERS' PREMIUM
The purchaser accepts that Mossgreen-Webb's will apply a buyer's premium which is charged in addition to the hammer price (unless otherwise stated) together with GST on the premium, which combined sum shall be the total purchase price. The rate of Buyers Premium is published in each catalogue online in conjunction with the catalogue. Please note that there is a minimum Buyers' Premium of 17.5%.
5. PAYMENT
Payment for all items purchased is due on the day of sale immediately following completion of the sale. If full payment cannot be made on the day of sale a deposit of 10% of the total sum due must be made on the day of sale and the balance must be paid, in clear funds, within 5 working days. Mossgreen Webbs accepts Cash, Eftpos, Visa and Mastercard (with a 2.2% merchant fee) and Amex (with a 3.3% merchant fee). Personal Cheques are accepted though goods will not be released until funds are cleared.
Please note: Credit Card details taken over the phone or fax are subject to a $5,000 limit. The card holder must be present to sign any amounts in excess of this limit.
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They have full discretion to conduct all aspects of the sale and to withdraw any lot from the sale without giving any reason.
8. COLLECTION
Purchases are to be taken away at the buyer's expense immediately after the sale once payment in full has been made. If this is not done, Mossgreen-Webb's will not be responsible if the lot is lost stolen damaged or destroyed. Any payment by cheque will not be considered paid until the payment has cleared.
Any items not collected within seven days of the auction may be subject to a storage and insurance fee. A receipted invoice must be produced prior to delivery of any lot.
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Buyers who purchase an item which falls within the provisions of the Antiquities Act 1975 or the Arms Act 1958 cannot take possession of that item until they have shown to Mossgreen-Webb's a license under the appropriate Act.
10. FAILURE TO MAKE PAYMENT
If a purchaser fails either to pay for or take away any lot Mossgreen-Webb's shall without further notice to the purchaser at its absolute discretion and without prejudice to any other rights or remedies it may have be entitled to exercise one or more of the following rights or remedies:
a. To issue proceeding against the purchaser for damages for breach of contract.
b. To rescind the sale of that or any other lot sold to the purchaser at the same
or any other auction.
c. To resell the lot by public or private sale. Any deficiency resulting from such resale, after giving credit to the purchaser for any part payment together with all costs incurred in connection with the lot, shall be paid to Mossgreen-Webb's by the purchaser. Any surplus over the proceeds of sale shall belong to the seller and in this condition the expression "proceeds of sale" shall have the same meaning in relation to a sale by private treaty as it has in relation to a sale by auction.
d. To store the lot whether at Mossgreen-Webb's own premises or elsewhere at the sole expense of the purchaser and to release the lot only after the purchase price has been paid in full plus the accrued cost of removal storage and all other costs connected to the lot.
e. To charge interest on the purchase price at a rate 2% above Mossgreen-Webb's bankers' then current rate for commercial overdraft facilities to the extent that the price or any part of it remains unpaid for more than seven days from the date of the sale.
f. To retain possession of that or any other lot purchased by the purchaser at that or any other auction and to release the same only after payment of money due.
g. To apply the proceeds of sale of any lot then or subsequently due to the purchaser towards settlement of money due to Mossgreen-Webb's or it's vendor. Mossgreen-Webb's shall be entitled to a possessory lien on any property of the purchaser for any purpose while any money remains unpaid under this contract.
h. To apply any payment made by the purchaser to Mossgreen-Webb's towards any money owing to Mossgreen-Webb's in respect of anything whatsoever irrespective of any directive given in respect of or restriction placed upon such payment by the purchaser whether expressed or implied.
i. Title and right of disposal of the goods shall not pass to the purchaser until payment has been made in full by cleared funds. Where any lot purchased in held by Mossgreen-Webb's pending i. clearance of funds by the purchaser or ii. completion of payment after receipt of a deposit the lot will be held by Mossgreen-Webb's as bailee for the vendor risk and title passing to the purchaser immediately upon notification of clearance of funds or upon completion of purchase. In the event that a lot is lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed before title is transferred to the purchaser, the purchaser shall be entitled to a refund of all monies paid to Mossgreen-Webb's in respect of that lot but shall not be entitled to any compensation for any consequent losses howsoever arising.
11. BIDDERS DEEMED PRINCIPALS
All bidders shall be held personally and solely liable for all obligations arising from
any bid including both telephone and absentee bids. Any person wishing to bid as
agent for a third party must obtain written authority to do so from Mossgreen-Webb's prior to bidding.
12.SUBJECT BIDS
Where the highest bid is below the reserve and the auctioneer declares a sale to be "subject to vendor's consent" or words to that effect the highest bid remains binding upon the bidder until the vendor accepts or rejects it. If the bid is accepted there is a contractual obligation upon the bidder to pay for the lot. However a bid may be withdrawn by the highest bidder at any time before the vendor accepts the bid. Once accepted by the vendor a contract has been formed.
13. SALES POST AUCTION OR BY PRIVATE TREATY
The above conditions shall apply to all buyers of goods from Mossgreen-Webb's irrespective of the circumstances under which the sale is negotiated.

Shipping & Collection

SHIPPING
For shipping both national and international we recommend the services of Pack and Send Ltd, who work closely with our business to enable the safe return of your new purchase.
All costs associated with the freight of your goods (packaging, shipping, consumables etc) are to be paid by the purchaser, in addition to the winning bid.

Details for Pack and Sends are listed below, or please feel free to organise another contractor of your choice.

Pack and Send Ltd
+64 9 909 9099
aucklandcity@packsend.co.nz
Contact: Neel

COLLECTION
Purchases are to be taken away at the buyer's expense immediately after the sale once payment in full has been made. If this is not done, Mosgreen-Webb's will not be responsible if the lot is lost stolen damaged or destroyed. Any payment by cheque will not be considered paid until the payment has cleared. Any items not collected within seven days of the auction may be subject to a storage and insurance fee. A receipted invoice must be produced prior to delivery of any lot.