Fateh al-Moudarres (Arabic:فاتح المدرس; 1922–1999) was aSyrian painter and one of the leaders of themodern art movement in Syria. Moudarres studied at theAccademia di Belle Arti inRome, where he was influenced bySurrealism. After he completed his studies, he returned to Syria where he developed his skills under the auspices of long-time friend, mentor, and tutorWahbi Al-Hariri.
Born inAleppo,Syria, Fateh Moudarres originally taught himselfrealist painting techniques, before becoming interested insurrealism. He has been considered a master Syrian surrealist painter.[1] After moving back to Syria, he was a lecturer and dean of the faculty of fine arts atDamascus University until 1993, and then became a professor.[2]
After receiving his high school degree from theAleppo American College, Moudarres studied at theAccademia di Belle Arti di Roma in Rome from 1954 to 1960 and developed a distinctive style of painting that incorporated both movements.[1] He abandoned the religiousiconography and Syrian art references of his early work for non-objectivity in the 1960s. After 1967 however, his work took on political themes.[citation needed]
Moudarres also studied at theEcole des Beaux Arts inParis for three years in the early 1970s, and honed his technical and compositional skills before returning toSyria to teach at theUniversity of Damascus. This provided him an opportunity to interact with other young Syrian artists. During this time, he was mentored by Syrian artistWahbi Al-Hariri, "The Last of the Classicists," with whom he would remain friends.[3][4]
Artwork titled "Icons of Moudarres" by Fateh Moudarres
Moudarres was a prolific artist, and several important private collections of his work exist:
The Al-Hariri Family: Currently the largest private collection of the works of Fateh Moudarres is kept by Mokhless Al-Hariri, son of Syrian artist,Wahbi Al-Hariri of the Al-Hariri Family.[7][8]
The Collection of Rudolf and Maria Fechter: Dr. Rudolf Fechter, a German diplomat and statesman, was also a friend of Moudarres and bought several pieces; arguably it was the second major collection of the artist's work before slowly being auctioned recently at Christie's
Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, Doha, a collection of modern and contemporary art from North Africa, the Middle East, India, Iran and Diaspora.
The Collection ofWalter Scheel: Scheel, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Germany, and later president, was exposed to Moudarres's work through Dr. Fechter and, an avid collector, acquired several pieces and maintained a small, but sizeable collection.[9]
Since his death, prices of his works have been rising. In April 2013 the record price for his work was again raised, maintaining the steady rise his work fetches, when one painting sold for $315,750.00 - well over the $150,000-$200,000 estimate by Christie's.[11] In 2007 average prices of his works were between $10,000 and $20,000. On 30 October 2008, however, at an auction of modern art at theJumeirah Emirates Towers Hotel inDubai, one of his paintings, titledAchtar, dated 1983, was initially estimated at $120,000-$160,000 but realized $176,500. At the same auction, a new record was set, but the rarity of the work's size and orientation set it apart:Wedding in The Kalamoon Mountains, Syria fetched $289,000.00.[12]
On October 30, 2008,Christie's auctioned two of Moudarres's paintings.[13] The paintings were the property of private collectors and not part of any collection:
On April 30, 2008, Christie's auctioned several Moudarres pieces, alongside works byLouay Kayyali. One of the latter's paintings realized $157,000.00.[14]
Kayce and Layla (Lot 1), $11,250.00
Untitled (Lot 2), $13,750.00
Family (Lot 3) $43,000.00
Wedding in The Kalamoon Mountains, Syria (Lot 10) $289,000.00
On April 29, 2009, Christie's auctioned off several of Fateh Moudarres's smaller minor works for prices averaging over $50,000.[16] The pieces were part ofThe Rudolf and Maria Fechter Collection:
On April 29, 2009, Christie's auctioned off several of Fateh Moudarres's smaller minor works for prices averaging over $50,000.[16] The pieces were part ofThe Rudolf and Maria Fechter Collection:
On October 26, 2010, Christie's auctioned eight of Moudarres's paintings in the International Modern and Contemporary Art in Dubai, Including Masterpieces from an Italian private collection.
On November 9, 2010, Christie's auctioned eight of Moudarres's paintings in the TABLEAUX ORIENTALISTES ET ART MODERNE ARABE ET IRANIEN in Paris, Including Masterpieces from DE L'ANCIENNE COLLECTION DE MARIA ET SON EXCELLENCE L'AMBASSADEUR RUDOLF FECHTER.
Choral (God is love) (Lot 104), €20,625.00
Sheikh de Ras Schamra (Lot 105), €11,250.00
Three worlds of life (Lot 106), €3,750.00
L'enfant blond, (Lot 107), €9,375.00
Easy midnoon in April, (Lot 108), €6,000.00
Deux figures dans un fond vert, (Lot 109), €7,500.00
On October 25, 2011, Christie's auctioned one of Moudarres's paintings as part of the Modern and Contemporary Arab, Iranian and Turkish Art Part I sale in Dubai[19]
Nour Al-Ahmar wa Naruhu (Red Light and its Fire) (Lot 9), $170,500.00
On April 18, 2012, Christie's auctioned one of Moudarres's paintings as part of the Modern and Contemporary Arab, Iranian and Turkish Art Part II sale in Dubai[20]
On April 16, 2013, Christie's auctioned one of Moudarres's paintings as part of the 2013 Modern and Contemporary Arab, Iranian and Turkish Art Part I sale in Dubai[21]
