after George Braque - Postage Stamp of “The Messenger”

An envelope enriched with a mint state postage stamp of “The Messenger” (stamp created in 1961) illustrating a painting by George Braque. The envelope is addressed in the hand of the artist to John Richardson 186 East 75 Street/U.S.A. New York'.

Reference: Sothebys catalogue: “John Richardson : A scholar collects”

Size: 4 1/2 x 5 3/4 in. (sheet), 9 x 10 1/2 in. (frame).

Note: The stamp portrays the painting by George Braque. A very small number of prominent French artists have been afforded the honour of having their works illustrated on postage stamps.

This was a gift from the artist to his friend, the writer, John Richardson. Ricardson is perhaps best known for his magisterial biography of Pablo Picasso, He also was a great friend of George Braque and wrote a book about the artist which was published in 1959.

Provenance: “John Richardson: A Scholar Collects” was a sale held at Sothebys in December 2020. a unique collection of more than 50 paintings, works on paper, sculptures, and prints spanning contemporary art, Old Masters, modern art, and more from the renowned art historian and award-winning biographer of Pablo Picasso. Among the many remarkable works in Richardson’s collection are pieces he received personally from many of the leading luminaries of 20th century art, such as Picasso, Lucian Freud, Andy Warhol, and Georges Braque. The collection is comprised of works from Richardson’s Fifth Avenue loft, noted for its aristocratically bohemian interiors that mixed antiquities with modern and contemporary art for a uniquely eclectic style, and was recently chronicled in John Richardson: At Home (Rizzoli, 2019) with photography by François Halard. Our piece can be sen on the wall of Richardson’s Fifth Avenue loft (Top right of the photo)

Condition: In very good condition