Post #304939 by bigbrotiki on Tue, May 8, 2007 3:02 PM

Leeteg used to make multiple versions of his paintings that sold well. He repainted his "Hina Rapa" ( the logo of Palm Springs' Chi Chi Room) about 12 times, I heard. Then, think of all the printed copies that were made, too. Here is a different version of the painting up for auction, from his gallerist Barney Davis' self published book on Leeteg:

Of course Barney Davis as his gallerist would say it's worth 75 000.- (see newspaper clipping on auction page)

Here is my theory: Compare the background here to the one in the painting for auction. Black velvet paintings, much more than regular oils, are NOT very durable and subject to fading, which here of course means they fade to BLACK. Note the close up of the signature. My guess is that one of the recent owners, seeing his precious posession slowly fade, layed hand on himself trying to re-invigorate the fleshtones, and badly messed up in the facial features, (and the breasts!), which makes the whole piece worthless, I am sad to say.

PS: This is just a theory, mind you. But putting both versions up next to each other on my screen, I still like the book one better. It seems more natural, flowing, well proportioned. Maybe the auction one IS all Leeteg, but one of his later versions, and he was drunker than usual when he painted it! :)

[ Edited by: bigbrotiki 2007-05-08 15:13 ]