Frank Sinatra
1915-1998 | American

Purple Abstract

Signed "Sinatra 89" (lower right)
Oil on canvas

Few artists so thoroughly impacted the American cultural landscape as Frank Sinatra. A lifelong art enthusiast, he developed a discerning eye as a collector following his rise to fame, acquiring notable modern and postmodern works from around the world. In his own practice, he explored bold, abstract compositions such as this, drawing inspiration from leading abstractionists while shaping a distinct and personal visual language.

This geometric abstract painting displays a vertical cascade of angular forms set against a soft lavender ground. Clean-edged rectangles in cream, ochre, deep purple and emerald anchor the composition, while a lively cluster of triangles in crimson, cobalt, yellow, black and pink energizes the center. Smaller fragments extend outward, lending a sense of movement and visual rhythm. The flat planes of color and crisp geometry reflect the legacy of mid-century abstraction, recalling artists such as Hans Hofmann, Henri Matisse, Piet Mondrian and Frank Stella.

By the mid-1960s, Sinatra was an icon. He famously became the founding member of the "Rat Pack," an informal group of Las Vegas entertainers that also included Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford and others. Sinatra briefly retired from his long-standing gig at Caesars Palace in the early 1970s, and it was during this period away from the stage when he painted the present work. He eventually returned and would continue to perform until 1995, when he played his last show at the age of 79. He died just three years later of a heart attack at the age of 82. Today, Sinatra memorabilia, particularly such personal objects as his paintings, are highly prized by both lovers of his music and lovers of fine art.

Dated 1989

Canvas: 39 3/4" high x 29 1/2" wide (101 x 74.9 cm)
Frame: 40 3/4" high x 30 1/2" wide x 2 1/2" deep(103.5 x 77.5 x 6.4 cm)

Provenance:
Private Collection, California
M.S. Rau, New Orleans
Private Collection, New York
M.S. Rau, New Orleans

3.26 Frank Sinatra

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