Lucio Fontana (1899-1968), Concetto spaziale, Attese. Christie's Images Ltd 2012

signed, titled and inscribed 'l. Fontana "Concetto Spaziale" ATTESE perché gli uomini si uccidono, Blek? [sic].' (on the reverse); waterpaint on canvas
19¾ x 24¼in. (50.2 x 61.3cm.) . Executed in 1967 - Estimate £450,000 - £650,000

Provenance! Antonio Righini, Verona. 

Private Collection, Verona. 

Acquired from the above by the present owner in 1970s. 

Literature! E. Crispolti, Lucio Fontana: Catalogue raisonné des peintures, sculptures et environnements spatiaux, vol. II, Brussels 1974, no. 67 T 85 (illustrated, p. 194).

E. Crispolti, Lucio Fontana: Catalogo generale, vol. II, Milan 1986, no. 67 T 85 (illustrated, p. 670).

E. Crispolti, Lucio Fontana: Catalogo ragionato di sculture, dipinti, ambientazioni, vol. II, Milan 2006, no. 67 T 85 (illustrated, p. 864).

Notes: 'Art is eternal, but it cannot be immortal, we plan to separate art from matter, to separate the sense of the eternal from the concern with the immortal. And it doesn't matter to us if a gesture, once accomplished, lives for a second or a millennium, for we are convinced that, having accomplished it, it is eternal' (The First Spatial Manifesto signed by L. Fontana, G. Kaisserlian, B. Joppolo, M. Milan, reproduced in E. Crispolti & R. Siligato (eds.), Lucio Fontana, exh. cat., 1998, pp. 117-118).

Christie's. Post-War and Contemporary Art Evening Auction. 14 February 2012. London, King Street www.christies.com