黑猩猩画作亮相著名拍卖行
Brightly colored paintings by Congo the chimpanzee are going on sale at a prestigious London auction house alongside works by Andy Warhol and Renoir.
The collection of three tempera on paper paintings -- described as resembling abstract artworks -- are expected to fetch between $1,130 and $1,500 next month at sale.
Congo, born in 1954, produced some 400 drawings and paintings between the ages of 2 and 4.
He quickly learned how to handle a brush and pencils, instead of knocking them over or trying to eat them.
He painted within the boundaries of the sheet of paper, never allowing the paint to spill over the edge, and appeared to know when he had finished a painting -- by refusing to pick up his brush or pencil over the work.
Bonhams said Wednesday it believed the auction would break new ground.
"I would sincerely doubt that chimpanzee art has ever been auctioned before," said Bonhams' director of modern and contemporary art, Howard Rutkowski. "I don't think anybody else has been crazy enough to do this."
In 1957, animal behaviorist Desmond Morris organized an exhibition of chimpanzee art, including works by Congo, at London's Institute of Contemporary Arts.
Critics reacted with a mix of scorn and skepticism, but Picasso reportedly owned a painting by Congo, Bonham's said.
It wasn't immediately clear if Congo was still alive, a Bonhams spokeswoman said.
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