The first international auction of 20th century Middle Eastern Paintings
Regional, Art, 4/20/2001

The first International auction of 20th century Middle Eastern Paintings in the forthcoming Arts of the Islamic Word sale will be held on Thursday, 3rd May 2001 at Sotheby's London.

The auction offers a selection of works from the important private collection of 20th century Arab Art belonging to Mr and Mrs. Riad al-Rayyes, who have been discerningly collecting since the 1960 s. The selection includes wonderful examples of works by artists such as Mahmoud Hammad, Adham Ismail, Louai Kayyali, Michel Kurche, Fateh Moudarres, Naseer Shoura and Elias Zayyat from Syria; Saliba Douaihy, Mustafa Farroukh, Paul Guiragossian and Chafic Abboud from Lebanon, Kazim Haidar, Ismail Fattah and Dia Azzawi from Iraq and Ramses Younan and Adam Henein from Egypt.

Among the prominent displaying Syrian artists is Louai Kayyali (1934-1978). Born in Aleppo, Syria, Kayyali held his first exhibition there in 1952.

After Briefly studying law he was sent on a scholarship to the Academy of Fine Arts in Rome and returned to Damascus in 1961. He won several awards and medals in Italy while still a student. He developed a highly individualistic style based on elegant lines and tightly arranged compositions. As one of the most important socio- political Arab artists he painted simple people and conveyed their suffering through their distinctive individuality. His disappointment with the political developments in the region led him to give up his position at the College of Fine Arts in Damascus and return to Aleppo where he eventually committed suicide.

This sale will offer a fine selection of works by Arab and Turkish artists spanning the 20th century. It will be in view in the main galleries of Sotheby's in London from Sunday 29th April through to Wednesday 2nd May during which time all regular Islamic Sales will also be on view However, Sotheby's South is Britain's largest auction house outside London, holding more than 150 sales a year. Buyers from all over the world congregate at Sotheby's South to view the spectrum of arts and antique on offer.

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