Ape Abstracts To Auction

Congo the chimpanzee led a brief artistic career and enjoyed little critical success, despite the patronage of his contemporary and fellow painter Pablo Picasso. But nearly half a century after Congo was active, some of his paintings are going on sale at a prestigious London auction house alongside works by Andy Warhol and Renoir. Three brightly coloured compositions of bold brushstrokes that resemble abstract artworks painted by the chimp will be on sale at Bonhams auction house in London on June 20. The value of the lot is estimated at between $1,130 to 1,500 . Congo quickly learned how to handle a brush and pencils, instead of knocking them over or trying to eat them. He painted within the boundaries of the sheet of paper, never allowing the paint to spill over the edge, and appeared to know when he had finished a painting - by refusing to pick up his brush or pencil over the work. For the full story - click the title Irish Art