Christo (1935-2020), The Pont-Neuf Wrapped (Project for Paris) , 1979, diptych, mixed technique on paper pasted on cardboard, (oil pastel, charcoal, graphite pencil, collages of threads and fabrics, printed architectural plan), 28x71 and 51x71 cm The work can be found in the archives of Daniel Varenne's catalogue raisonné under number 2978. Provenance: Acquired from Daniel Varenne by his sister more than 25 years ago, it has remained in the family to this day. Exhibition: Christo: Le Pont-Neuf empaqueté, projet pour Paris, Didier Imbert Fine Art, Paris, 24.01-21.02.1986, cat. exp. no. 2, ill. On verso: Galerie Bonnier, Genève, no. 15, Galerie Le Clos de Sierre, Sierre, Didier Imbert Fine Art, Paris, Label with handwritten inscription En consignation D. Varenne 830[']'301011 du 20 Ꮖ 86 Good condition We have found no evidence of restoration or major damage The work is in its original condition with a natural patina due to the passage of time. The frame appears to be original. In the lower right-hand corner there are traces of dirt, resin and scratches on the glass. A few scratches on the Plexiglas. The cardboard support is mounted on paper. There are a few cracks in the paper on the edges. The cardboard support has very slight deformations. There is a very slight yellowing, slightly accentuated on the upper edge The paint layer is in very good condition, the charcoal is clear when rubbed The gluing is very well preserved. There is a slight oxidation and the glue dots have yellowed, creating stains. There is no major damage or trace of restoration. The plan: Good general condition Slightly oxidised, very slightly yellowed The mounting appears to be original Some slight wave distortion Good adhesion of the mount A few superficial scratches on the plexiglass and a trace of bleaching in the upper corner of the plexiglass on the edge (stop) A few small paper cracks on the edge a few small abrasions to the cardboard on the edges with a small minor tear 2mm from the top edge Some minor soiling, probably original No traces of restoration or major damage Christo (1935-2020) - The Pont-Neuf Wrapped (Project for Paris) Christo Vladimirov Javacheff, known as Christo, is a leading figure in contemporary art, known for his monumental and ephemeral installations, conceived with Jeanne-Claude. Together, they have transformed the world's monuments and landscapes into environmental sculptures, overturning perceptions of public space and traditional artistic codes of representation. All the artists have painted and drawn the Pont Neuf, interpreting it in their own way. Why use canvas ' CJ In the mid-1970s, Christo and Jeanne-Claude formulated an impossible wish: to wrap the most emblematic bridge in Paris: the Pont Neuf. Ten years of administrative setbacks, studies and reluctant heritage, political and technical opinions followed. Finally, in the autumn of 1985, the city was transformed into a huge workshop: an army of rope-men and sailors stretched 41,800 m² of stone-coloured fabric, tightened by 13 km of ropes and 12 tonnes of cables. Arches, spouts and parapets were transformed into a vibrant skin that caught the light. The feat has been achieved: an ephemeral sculpture on the scale of a landscape. The Pont-Neuf empaqueté is their first major packaging of a historic monument in the heart of a European capital, making it a major milestone and one of their most emblematic urban projects. "I wanted to transform it, to turn an architectural object, an object of inspiration for artists, into an object of art in its own right. I wanted it to become a sculpture for the first time, albeit an ephemeral one, like my dream. From 22 September to 5 October, nearly three million visitors were treated to this apparition. On 7 October, everything disappeared without a trace. From then on, the packed Pont-Neuf became the emblematic summit of Christo and Jeanne-Claude. Executed in 1979, the work presented here is exceptional. It is not just a stage in the project: it was used to finance the packaging directly, Christo refusing all commissions and ensuring his independence by selling drawings, collages and models. The bottom sheet is a vision of the draped bridge in charcoal, pastel and graphite, enhanced by samples of canvas and string chosen for the packaging, establishing an immediate material link with the work in situ. The top sheet is the execution plan (dimensions, anchoring points, rope routing, canvas measurements, clearance zones). Because the installation in Paris lasted just fourteen days, this diptych is one of the few surviving material testimonies to this feat. The work presented for sale is a rarity on the market and compares favourably with collages and studies held in leading collections, including the National Gallery of Art in Washington, the Museum of Modern Art and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, as well as the Centre Pompidou, the Kunstmuseum Bonn and the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art. As such, it can now be seen as a landmark in the history of one of the great urban performances of the twentieth century. Acquired from Daniel Varenne, editor of Christo's catalogue raisonné and a leading figure in his market, this work has a remarkable provenance.