Matisse bronze of female figure to be auctioned

[October 07, 2010]  NEW YORK (AP) -- A colossal Henri Matisse bronze from the artist's series of life-size relief sculptures will be sold in New York City. "Back IV" is estimated to bring $25 million to $35 million on Nov. 3 at Christie's.

It depicts an abstract female figure viewed from behind.

Matisse created a series of four 6-foot high plaster casts, numbered I through IV. Twelve bronze casts were made between 1948 and 1981 from each plaster original.

Christie's says it's the first time that one of the monumental bronzes is coming to auction.

The auction house says two examples are in private hands. Complete sets are housed in nine major museums, including New York's Museum of Modern Art.

Matisse died in 1954.

[Associated Press]

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