The sculptures here presented were last shown to the public in 1969. I, Andres Laszlo Jr., inherited them in 1985 together with a collection of glass paintings. I have since then sold the collection off "from below," so that today I am left with the 30 or so most attractive pieces, apart from 4 medieval polychrome Virgins. They have been exhibited all over Europe and in the United States. The photo shows my father explaining something about the glass paintings to Juan Miro. These (35 or so) glass-paintings from 17th/18th Century) also are included in the collection). In 1969 the collection (131 pieces) was exhibited on "Galeri Jean-Francois Apesteguy Deauville 1969". Today I have sold "the least attractive" on Alcala Auctions in Madrid, and I am looking for a way to sell the remaining quality parts together with the glass paintings. Below some of them are presented. VIDEO
The catalog (in translation) was titled "1000 Years of Primitive Spanish Sculptures"/The Andres Laszlo Collection" and can be viewed here. The collection has been "authenticated" by the then leading authority in the field (my father did that) and later by the chief antiquarian at the Louvre in Paris (I did that). There were other catalogs, but these have been lost, so if you have one, please make contact. An evaluation of the collection from 1969 is available. As you can see on this website, I am about to start promoting my and my father's texts, and I am therefore eager to sell. I have photos of all 33 sculptures and 35 glass paintings: just ask and I will send them.
The catalog's introduction
C’est insensé, et si cela ne brise pas notre logique, cela provoque au moins une désagréable dissonance. Et cependant c’est cette convention arbitraire qui nous fournit, paradoxalement, notre titre, car le caractère du « Primitif » est de ne dire que l’essentiel, sans rechercher les effets de perspective, de construction, de réalisme anatomique, etc...
La Renaissance, dans sa plénitude, n’a jamais atteint l’Espagne. A part la peinture, son influence dans la pensée, l’architecture et surtout dans la sculpture est restée très limitée. Le baroque est venu, presque sans transition, succéder aux arts médiévaux. Voilà pourquoi les auteurs de cette collection, artisans, sculpteurs anonymes, bergers, religieux et religieuses, restèrent primitifs esthétiquement parlant pendent un millénaire.
On peut constater les différentes influences subies pendant ces siècles, y compris même celles de la lointaine Flandre. Mais la véritable base, la source, restera et reste la conception primitive aussi bien au sens spirituel qu’historique.
Qu’il nous soit pardonne se, pour certaines pièces, il se trouve quelque erreur dans l’appréciation de l’époque. Ave l’aide de Maria Luisa Gomez Moreno, la plus haute autorité espagnole en ce domaine que nous tenons à remercier pour son aide si précieuse, nous avons fait pour les mieux. Mais certaines pièces, notamment celles de Galice, ou, au XVIe encore, le style roman dominait toujours l’esprit de plusieurs sculpteurs, nous laissent dans l’expectative, d’autant plus qu’elles furent repeintes au cours des deux derniers siècles.
*
My father, Andres Laszlo Sr. was an avid collector. However, unlike me, he had the good sense to exhibit his collections and occasionally sell a piece or two, something I have failed miserably in, resulting in that I now can no longer afford to keep them. The pieces displayed below are all listed in the last exhibition - 1000 ans de sculpture primitive Espagnole/collection A. Laszlo - at Galerie Jean-Francois Apesteguy, Deauville 1969 in Paris.
This, as far as I know, was the last time the collection was shown to the public. I know for certain that they have been exhibited in New York, Anesi (France), and Paris, i.e., on three continents, but as it was once my father's main income, there must have been many other places. There are copies of the 1969 catalogue and two old catalogs. You can read the French catalog here.
In the catalog, you can find information about height, age, and where the piece was bought (i.e., not necessarily from where it originates). Below you can see slideshows of some of the most interesting pieces:
THE COLLECTION.
1. Saint Anne, the Virgin, and the BABY JESUS
Time has, unfortunately, had its way with this charming old sculpture. It has number "2" in the exhibition catalog "1000 ans de sculpture primitive espagnole/collection A. Laszlo when it was last exhibited at Galerie Jean-Francois Apesteguy, Deauville, 1969 in Paris. For more details, see the catalog link here.
2. "CHRist aux outrages"
It could well be that this piece, which had the number "3" in the 1969 catalog, has been incorrectly attributed, I believe, and many have suggested that this is an early "Virgin en Majesté". Whether or not, this exquisite old piece had the number "2" in the exhibition catalog "1000 ans de sculpture primitive espagnole/collection A. Laszlo when it was last exhibited at Galerie Jean-Francois Apesteguy, Deauville, 1969 in Paris. For more details, see the catalog link here.
3. Apostle
Okay, so it might not be totally free from blemishes, but then several of the apostles are said to have been seriously badly treated, which I hope shall make this sort of ok. This seriously hard-done-by apostle had the number "7" in the exhibition catalog "1000 ans de sculpture primitive espagnole/collection A. Laszlo when it was last exhibited at Galerie Jean-Francois Apesteguy, Deauville, 1969 in Paris. For more details, see the catalog link here.
4. Saint martin (from tours)
This is an absolutely amazing sculpture. It's in an absolutely unbelievably good state. Of course, I cannot say that it was never, like for instance in the 15th century, restored. However, I can tell you that it looks absolutely fantastic and the horse is definitely out of this world. This rider had number "9" in the exhibition catalog "1000 ans de sculpture primitive espagnole/collection A. Laszlo when it was last exhibited at Galerie Jean-Francois Apesteguy, Deauville, 1969 in Paris where this piece is depicted on page 8. For more details, see catalog link here.
5. "SAINT JACQUES LE MAJEUR"
Saint Jaques had number "10" in the exhibition catalog "1000 ans de sculpture primitive espagnole/collection A. Laszlo when it was last exhibited at Galerie Jean-Francois Apesteguy, Deauville, 1969 in Paris where this piece is depicted on page 8. This piece has been totally restored. For more details, see catalog link here.
6. "GOTHIC CHRist"
This sculpture, which has the number 12 (or possibly 17) in the exhibition catalog "1000 ans de sculpture primitive espagnole/collection A. Laszlo when it was last exhibited at Galerie Jean-Francois Apesteguy, Deauville, 1969 in Paris where it was the (joint) priciest at $10,000. It is my favorite piece and to me so appealing that a line from the New Testament comes to mind: "Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian". For more details, see the catalog link here.
7. "SAINT SEBASTIAN"
This sculpture, which has the number 16 in the exhibition catalog "1000 ans de sculpture primitive espagnole/collection A. Laszlo when it was last exhibited at Galerie Jean-Francois Apesteguy, Deauville, 1969 in Paris. Part of its base and one foot has been restored. For more details, see catalog link here.
8. "NATIVITY"
This sculpture has the number 46 in the exhibition catalog "1000 ans de sculpture primitive espagnole/collection A. Laszlo when it was last exhibited at Galerie Jean-Francois Apesteguy, Deauville, 1969 in Paris. For more details, see the catalog link here.
9. "THE THREE KINGS"
This sculpture has the number 47 in the exhibition catalog "1000 ans de sculpture primitive espagnole/collection A. Laszlo when it was last exhibited at Galerie Jean-Francois Apesteguy, Deauville, 1969 in Paris. For more details, see the catalog link here.
10. "JOSEPH"
This sculpture, which has the number 123 in the exhibition catalog "1000 ans de sculpture primitive espagnole/collection A. Laszlo when it was last exhibited at Galerie Jean-Francois Apesteguy, Deauville, 1969 in Paris. The painting is excellent. For more details, see the catalog link here.
