Sam Francis Happy Death Stone (Lembark, L-10, p.58) 1960

Sam Francis

Happy Death Stone (Lembark, L-10, p.58), 1960

Lithograph on BFK Rives watermarked paper with deckled edges

Pencil signed and Numbered.

Unframed; accompanied by original labels from: Anderson Gallery, Martha Jackson Place, University of Buffalo; Albright Knox Gallery; National Collection of Fine Arts, Smithsonian Institution; and Martha Jackson Gallery

24 3/4 × 35 1/2 inches

Edition 49/90

Albright Knox Gallery label. It also bears a label from the National Collection of Fine Arts (Smithsonian Institution) - lent by Martha Jackson.  Perhaps the most fascinating and curious part of the provenance is that as part of the loan of this work to the US government -- it was apparently exhibited in the original White House situation room. A handwritten label on the back reads: Dave McManis, Situation Room White House, Deliver to EOB.  In the 1960s, David Y. McManis was a National Intelligence Offer with the Central Intelligence Agency.  The notation "Deliver to EOB" refers to the Executive Office Building. So as part of Martha Jackson Gallery's loan to the US Government's Collection of Fine Arts -- it appears that this Sam Francis ended up in the original White House Situation Room. And now you can own this storied edition of Sam Francis' magnificent "Happy Death Stone".

Catalogue Raisonne Reference: Connie W. Lembark, The Prints of Sam Francis: A Catalogue Raisonne 1960-1990', 1992, New York, Hudson Hills Press, Volume I, p.58, (illustrated. L.10).

Measurements: 

24.8 x 35.6 inches (sheet)

25 1/4 x 36 inches (original frame)

SIGNATURE

Pencil signed and numbered on lower recto (front). Verso of the frame bears original gallery, museum and US government collections labels.

PROVENANCE

Anderson Gallery - Martha Jackson Place University of Buffalo

Albright Knox Gallery

National Collection of Fine Arts

Martha Jackson Gallery

EXHIBITION HISTORY

Other editions:

Galleria Il Segno, Rome, Sam Francis, 1961.

Galerie Edwin Engleberts, Geneva , Sam Francis: Gouaches, Lithographies, 1962.

Bezalel National Museum, Jerusalem, Sam Francis: Sixteen Lithographs, 1962.

Esther Bear Gallery, Santa Barbara, California, Sam Francis, 1962.

Kestner-Gesellschaft, Hannover, Sam Francis, 1963. Kunsthalle, Basel, Sam Francis; Badischer Kunstverein , Karlsruhe, 1968; Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, 1968.

Wallraf-Richartz Museum, Kunsthalle, Cologne, Ars Multiplicata: Vervielfatige Kunst seit 1945, 1968.

Loretto Hilton Centre, Webster College, Saint Louis, Sam Francis, 1972.

Margo Leavin Gallery, Los Angeles, Sam Francis, 1974.

Idemitsu Art Gallery, Tokyo, Paintings of Sam Francis in the Idemitzu Collection, 1974.

Galerie Jean Fournier, Paris, Sam Francis: 55 Lithographs 1960-1973, 1975.

Galerie Pudelko, Bonn, Sam Francis: Die wichtigsten Lithographien aus den Jahren 1960- 1976, Aquarelle, 1977.

Galerie Kornfeld, Zurich, Sam Francis: 55 Lithographs, 1960-1973, 1977.

Galerie Madoura, Vallauris, France, Sam Francis, 1979.

Gallery Ikeda Bijutsu, Tokyo, Selected Sam, '60-'70, 1989;

Bernard Jacobson Gallery, London, 2015