PAUL CAPONIGRO - THE LOST PHOTOGRAPHS - VERY RARE - $9,999.

These two very rare Paul Caponigro photographs were recently discovered in my Dads estate.
They have been authenticated by Mr. Caponigro himself.
They are the only photos of these negatives ever made by Mr. Caponigro in 4 X 5 size.
They possibly are the first prints ever made of these negatives as stated by Mr. Caponigro in recent letters.
The marshland and tree stumps were photographed in Saugus Mass. USA 1957.
The tree stump with leichen was photographed near Rochester N.Y. in 1957.
Without question these two photos are some of the very first or even the very first photos made from these negatives as stated by Mr. Caponigro.
They were hand developed, fixed, washed and dried, mounted and signed by Mr. Caponigro in my fathers studio in Chelsea Mass. in 1957 in my fathers presence
These photographs were created by Mr. Caponigro long before he studied under Minor White or Ansel Adams and before he became famous.
The photos reveal his gifted talent.
They are according to Mr. Caponigro in the "early vintage" category of his career.
My father back in 1957 helped this youthful, struggling artist in his early career.
The existence of these two very rare photos was not known until recently.
Mr. Caponigro gave these two photos to my father in 1957 for his kindness and generosity to him as a young artist who needed
a studio to develop his works.
The history and size of these two photos make them among the rarest Paul Caponigro photos in existence today and a must have by any Caponigro collector.
They will be sold as a set only because of their background and history.
The Rochester N.Y. photo has a slight crease or bend in it that is practically indistinguishable, the Saugus Mass. photo is very pristine.
Included in this auction also are the original letters of confirmation by Mr. Caponigro and other letters written by my Dad confirming and telling the heartwarming story behind these two rare photos.
Letters from Mr. Caponigro confirming this entertaining story and dated Dec. 2009 are available on-line upon request.

On-line Links to scans of the two photos and all documentation are available upon request.

Item specifics:

Original/Reprint: Original

Print Subject: Still Life

Listed By: Reseller

Size Type/Largest Dimension: 4X5

Signed?: Yes Signed

Region of Origin: US

Photo Type: Gelatin Silver

PRICE: $9,999...FREE SHIPPING & INS.

CONTACT: dj@djsterling.com

PAUL CAPONIGRO BIO:
Paul Caponigro was born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1932. After attending public school he studied piano at Boston University. Drafted into the US Army in 1953 he was stationed in San Francisco as a photographer.

After Caponigro left the Army he studied and worked with Ansel Adams and Minor White - two illustrious photographers who had a deep influence on his photographic methods and aesthetics. He jokes that he learned the Zone system and the Zen system respectively from those teachers.

In 1958 Caponigro had his first solo exhibition at George Eastman House. In 1960 he began teaching photography at Boston University, the first of many part-time teaching and workshop positions he has held.

In 1962 he published his first portfolio of original prints and in 1967 the first monograph devoted to his work was published by Grossman, New York. An enlarged edition of this was published by Aperture in 1972.

Awarded a Guggenheim Foundation Fellowship in 1966 Caponigro travelled to England and Ireland, and returned there nearly every year for the next decade to photograph. In 1975 he was awarded a second Guggenheim and worked briefly in Japan the following year.

Not only did Caponigro continue to travel, photograph, exhibit, publish and teach for many years but he also explored his feelings about the world in essays, poetry and music.

In 1994 Caponigro simply stopped photographing and retired to his home near Cushing, Maine. It is here that he finds the inspiration for his current body of work - exquisite still lifes.