Sir Quentin Blake, one of Britain's best-loved illustrators, is going to offer his personal collection at Christie’s London in July to benefit charities. 178 works have been chosen by Quentin Blake from the past 40 years of his career, including some of the most celebrated literary characters from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Twits, The Big Friendly Giant etc.
Quentin Blake's Charlie, Willie Wonka and Grandpa Joe
Blake has collaborated with writers including Russell Hoban, Joan Aiken, Michael Rosen, John Yeoman and, most famously, Roald Dahl. His works have captured the imagination of generations of children and their parents. Now collectors have the opportunity to acquire works illustrating literary friends that they have grown up with.
Works sold at a dedicated online sale Quentin Blake: A Retrospective; Forty Years of Alternative Versions, open for bidding from 3 to 12 July, are being sold to benefit House of Illustration, Roald Dahl's Marvellous Children's Charity and Survival International. A selection of 30 illustrations by Quentin Blake will also be presented in the Valuable Books and Manuscripts auction on 11 July.
Quentin Blake's The Enormous Crocodile's Eyes Above the Muddy Water
Highlights include works for The Enormous Crocodile, Roald Dahl’s first book to be illustrated by Blake, and preliminary drawings showing the genesis of one of Roald Dahl’s best-loved creations, the Big Friendly Giant. These are presented alongside further children’s favourites by Dahl, including Fantastic Mr Fox, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and James and the Giant Peach.
Quentin Blake's The BFG Buckingham Palace Mural
In 2016, Blake completed a series of works for the Roald Dahl Centenary Portraits project, celebrating 100 years since the author’s birth: Charlie, Willie Wonka and Grandpa Joe, Matilda, and Sophie and the BFG are among the famous Roald Dahl characters depicted in a series of ten portraits by Blake, who asks the viewers to imagine the characters have been invited to sit for their portrait, thus truly bringing these well-known characters to life.
Quentin Blake's Dragon Reading to a Group of Children
Featured lots from Quentin Blake: A Retrospective
Quentin Blake (b. 1932). The Grand High Witch
Lot no.: 109
Size: 76 x 56.5cm
Estimate: £10,000 - 15,000
Quentin Blake (b. 1932). Danny and His Father
Lot no.: 110
Size: 76 x 56.5 cm
Estimate: £10,000 - 15,000
Quentin Blake (b. 1932). The BFG Buckingham Palace Mural
Lot no.: 116
Size: 28 x 36.5 cm
Estimate: £4,000 - 6,000
Quentin Blake (b. 1932). Enormous Crocodile's Eyes Above the Muddy Water
Lot no.: 3
Size: 39 x 30.5 cm
Estimate: £1,200 - 1,800
Featured lots from Valuable Books and Manuscripts Sale
Quentin Blake (b. 1932). Charlie, Willie Wonka and Grandpa Joe
Lot no: 388
Size: 78 x 57 cm
Estimate: £10,000 - 15,000
Quentin Blake (b. 1932). Matilda
Lot no.: 389
Size: 78 x 57 cm
Estimate: £10,000 - 15,000
Quentin Blake (b. 1932). Dragon Reading to a Group of Children.
Lot no.: 385
Size: 33 x 45 cm
Estimate: £1,800–2,500
Quentin Blake (b. 1932). Kitty-in-Boots, or, Miss Catherine St Quintin
Lot no.: 391
Size: 28.5 x 25 cm
Estimate: £1,200–1,800
Quentin Blake: A Retrospective
Auction house: Christie’s London
Lots offered: 148
Preview:
2018/7/7-10
Auction date:
2018/7/3-12 (online auction)
Valuable Books and Manuscripts
Auction house: Christie’s London
Lots offered: 394
Preview:
2018/7/7-8｜12pm-5pm
2018/7/9｜9am-4:30pm
2018/7/10｜9am-8pm
Auction date:
2018/7/11｜10am (Lots 1 - 177), 2pm (Lots 178 - 364), 5:30 pm (Lots 365 - 394)