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Leon Constantiner was born on January 13, 1959 in New York City, New York, USA. He is a producer, known for Intimacy (1989), Ivan the Very Terrible (1995) and Ángel de fuego(1992).
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Producer (6 credits)
2011 Elusive Justice: The Search for Nazi War Criminals (Documentary) (executive producer)
2010 Nuremberg: Its Lesson for Today (executive producer)
2000 Los Baños de Celeste (Short) (executive producer)
1995 Ivan the Very Terrible (executive producer) / (producer)
1994 Jump (Short) (executive pr
Producer (6 credits)
2011 Elusive Justice: The Search for Nazi War Criminals (Documentary) (executive producer)
2010 Nuremberg: Its Lesson for Today (executive producer)
2000 Los Baños de Celeste (Short) (executive producer)
1995 Ivan the Very Terrible (executive producer) / (producer)
1994 Jump (Short) (executive producer)
1992 Ángel de fuego (executive producer)
1989 Intimacy (producer)
2002 Today You Are a Fountain Pen (Short) (special thanks)
2006 American Masters (TV Series documentary)
Himself
Marilyn Monroe: Still Life (2006) ... Himself
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ICONS OF GLAMOUR AND STYLE: THE CONSTANTINER COLLECTION
The Constantiner Collection of Photographs December 16 & 17, 2008 New York – Christie’s is pleased to announce the sale of The Constantiner Collection of Photographs, which will be offered in three sessions on 16 and 17 December 2008 in New York. Assembled by Leon and Michaela Const
ICONS OF GLAMOUR AND STYLE: THE CONSTANTINER COLLECTION
The Constantiner Collection of Photographs December 16 & 17, 2008 New York – Christie’s is pleased to announce the sale of The Constantiner Collection of Photographs, which will be offered in three sessions on 16 and 17 December 2008 in New York. Assembled by Leon and Michaela Constantiner, this spectacular collection focuses on photography as a key shaping force within the media worlds that have, for over half a century, celebrated fashion, style, celebrity and desire, and features some of the most sought-after artists, including Andy Warhol, Helmut Newton, Richard Avedon, Irving Penn, Herb Ritts, Robert Mapplethorpe and Peter Lindbergh. Glamorized figures represent the core theme of the Costantiner Collection, with photographs from the era of Marilyn Monroe, James Dean and Lisa Fonssagrives-Penn to the vibrant contemporary universe of icons such as Kate Moss, Stephanie Seymour, Monica Bellucci and Madonna. Comprising of 320 lots, the collection is expected to achieve $7.5 to 11 million. © The Helmut Newton Estate According to Philippe Garner, International Director of Photographs at Christie's: “The Constantiner Collection eloquently recognizes, that fashion, publishing and film industries have become profoundly influential in shaping the references of our world, creating the focal points of dream and aspiration, a A Golden Era of Elegance A thoughtfully selected group of pictures illustrate the theme of high fashion elegance from the 30s through to the later years of the 20th century. The emphasis is on what one might call the golden age of couture elegance that reached a pinnacle in the 1950s in the images of Irving Penn and Richard Avedon, and on the emergence in the 60s and 70s of new trends in which style was allied to a more youthful or edgy approach and the language of classic fashion photography was extended with confrontational, erotic or autobiographical narratives, as evidenced in the work of William Klein, Guy Bourdin and of course Helmut Newton. The Collection boasts an impressive range of images by Irving Penn including Lisa in Mermaid Dress by Marcel Rochas (estimate: $250,000-350,000) – pictured, Black and White Vogue Cover (estimate: $200,000-300,000) and the more recent Lacroix Dress (estimate $50,000-70,000). Among the works by Avedon are his Stephanie Seymour (estimate: $120,000-180,000) and his Paris portfolio, a suite of eleven of his greatest images of Paris couture from the period 1948-1957, and his Fashion portfolio, 1978 (estimate: $120,000-180,000) – pictured page 1, right. The Collection includes work by other influential figures including Horst, George Hoyningen-Huene, Louise Dahl-Wolfe, Norman Parkinson, Frank Horvat and Arthur Elgort, with estimates starting at $1,500. Hollywood In parallel with the unfolding of the story of high fashion, the Collection spotlights a succession of the most talented and glamorous stars of the cinema, from the period of Marlene Dietrich, Ava Gardner, Veronica Lake and Jane Russell through to a modern pantheon that includes Kim Basinger, Faye Dunaway, Michele Pfeiffer and Charlotte Rampling, and taking in such timeless beauties as Raquel Welch, Charlotte Rampling and Catherine Deneuve. Jane Russell is captured by celebrated Hollywood photographer George Hurrell in the 1941 film that showed her off to such advantage and made her famous, The Outlaw. A nude Charlotte Rampling features in studies by Helmut Newton (estimate: $10,000-15,000) and Jeanloup Sieff (estimate: $3,000-5,000). Michelle Pfeiffer is dressed in an Armani tuxedo playing the part of a male character from Private Lives by Noel Coward in a portrait by Herb Ritts (estimate: $5,000-7,000). Engaging male subjects include Irving Penn’s powerful portrait of Al Pacino (estimate: $20,000-30,000), David Bowie by Herb Ritts (estimate: $5,000-7,000) and studies of James Dean by Dennis Stock (estimate: $7,000-9,000 for two) – pictured, and for a portfolio by Roy Schatt (estimate: $8,000-12,000). Marilyn Monroe The Constantiner Collection focuses in depth on the greatest female screen icon of them all – Marilyn Monroe. Her glamorous public image is celebrated, while a range of informal and more intimate photographs build a powerful document of her personality and explore the fragile, vulnerable quality of her extraordinary appeal. The star is presented through the lens and artistry of an impressive roster, including Andy Warhol, André de Dienes, Tom Kelley, Elliott Erwitt, Eve Arnold, Gary Winogrand, Milton Greene and Bert Stern. Portraits by de Dienes dating from 1945-1949 show the teenage Norma Jeane Baker in the first blossoming of her beauty (estimates from $3,000); Tom Kelley’s famous 1949 color nude of Monroe on a red background was featured in the premier issue of Playboy as the magazine’s first ‘Sweetheart of the Month’ (estimate: $10,000-15,000); the celebrated scene of Monroe standing on a subway grating with her skirt billowing up is captured through several lenses including those of Erwitt, Winogrand – pictured page 1, left (estimate: $5,000-7,000), and George Zimbel. Richard Avedon’s 1957 portrait captures a sad, touching, off-guard Monroe (estimate: $25,000-35,000) – pictured, while a suite of 59 prints – made as a dedicated exhibition for Le Mois de la Photo in Paris in 1992 – includes all the key images from the extended shoot from 1962 by Bert Stern for American Vogue that became The Last Sitting. The planned September 1962 Vogue feature was just about to go to press when news came through of her tragic death. The text was changed and it ran as a memorial tribute (estimate: $100,000-150,000). Erotic Figures Elegantly styled and eroticized studies of the female nude are a key thread in the Collection, interweaving with the themes of fashion and film. Here are both iconic celebrities and anonymous subjects suggesting ideals of erotic beauty. While the Constantiner Collection tends, in this domain as in others, towards a classic concept of beauty, the selection of images is spiced by the occasional harder-edged subject, notably certain images by Helmut Newton that push taboos and conventions to the very limit, yet succeed through their dark humor and sheer self-confidence. A fine print of Movement Study I by Rudolph Koppitz, from 1925, is the earliest nude in the Collection. The image is a justly celebrated manifestation of the best in Austrian avant-garde art of its era. Robert Mapplethorpe’s abstracted study of a naked torso, Lydia, 1987, is an exceptional platinum print on linen (estimate: $100,000-150,000) – pictured. New York Neither Leon nor Michaela Constantiner is a native New Yorker. Both are of European origin and have made their home in Manhattan. They have nurtured romantic dreams in this city that has traditionally encouraged people to reach out for their ideals. Certain ideals have found form through the mediated codes of beauty – the insistent imagery of magazine page and cinema screen that is at the very heart of the Constantiner Collection – the city of New York itself emerges as a distinct and important theme. Through the eyes of such inspired photographers as Karl Struss, Berenice Abbott, Margaret Bourke-White or Hiroshi Sugimoto we discover New York as a city of dreams and aspirations. The city is also cleverly incorporated as a backdrop in a number of memorable fashion and figure studies. Karl Struss made a graphically powerful and emotionally resonant study, Cables, 1910-1912 (estimate: $80,000-120,000). The Collection includes two New York images from the series of studies made by Hiroshi Sugimoto of historic examples of great 20th century architecture, his Guggenheim Museum, 1997, in the rare large format (estimate: $150,000-200,000) – pictured, and his United Nations Building, 1997 (estimate: $30,000- 40,000). Auction: 16 & 17 December, 2008 Viewing: 12-16 December, 2008 About Christie’s Christie’s is the world's leading art business with global art sales in 2007 that totalled £3.1 billion/$6.3 billion. This marks the highest total in company and in art auction history. For the first half of 2008, art sales totalled £1.8 billion / $3.5 billion. Christie’s is a name and place that speaks of extraordinary art, unparalleled service and expertise, as well as international glamour. Founded in 1766 by James Christie, Christie's conducted the greatest auctions of the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, and today remains a popular showcase for the unique and the beautiful. Christie’s offers over 600 sales annually in over 80 categories, including all areas of fine and decorative arts, jewellery, photographs, collectibles, wine, and more. Prices range from $200 to over $80 million. Christie’s has 85 offices in 43 countries and 14 salerooms around the world including in London, New York, Los Angeles, Paris, Geneva, Milan, Amsterdam, Tel Aviv, Dubai, Hong Kong and Zurich. Most recently, Christie’s has led the market with expanded initiatives in emerging and new markets such as Russia, China, India and the United Arab Emirates, with successful sales and exhibitions in Beijing, Mumbai and Dubai. *Estimates do not include buyer's premium # # # Images available on request Visit Christie’s Web site at www.christies.com