That’s monkey business! Collection of 55 paintings by Congo the chimpanzee whose art was bought by Pablo Picasso and Duke of Edinburgh are set to fetch £200,000 at auction
- Congo the chimpanzee was born in 1954 and rose to fame on ITV’s Zoo Time broadcast live from London Zoo
- He and his keeper Desmond Morris, now 91, got such a good reputation his works were bought by stars
- The ape painted 400 pieces before his death from tuberculosis at the age of 10 in 1964
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A collection of 55 paintings drawn by a chimpanzee whose work has been bought by everyone from Pablo Picasso to the Duke of Edinburgh has gone up for auction at £200,000.
The paintings by Congo the chimpanzee will go under the hammer at a London gallery in December.
Born in 1954, Congo learned to draw at two years old when his owner, anthropologist Desmond Morris, gave him a pencil.
By the age of four, he had completed no less than 400 abstract, expressionist paintings. He died six years later at the age of 10 after suffering from tuberculosis.
Born in 1954, Congo the chimpanzee (pictured) learned to draw at two years old when his owner, anthropologist Desmond Morris, gave him a pencil. By the age of four, he had completed no less than 400 abstract, expressionist paintings
A baby Congo is pictured with zoologist Desmond Morris. The pair appeared together on ITV’s Zoo Time in the 1950s when viewers would get to see the ape in action
Congo the chimpanzee and Desmond Morris, now 91, rose to fame in the 1950s when they appeared on ITV’s Zoo Time, which provided live broadcasts direct from London Zoo and gave viewers the chance to the monkey in action (painting pictured)
Congo and Mr Morris, now 91, rose to fame in the 1950s when they appeared on ITV’s Zoo Time, which provided live broadcasts direct from London Zoo and gave viewers the chance to the monkey in action.
He was so popular his works were acquired by the likes of Pablo Picasso, Joan Miro and the Duke of Edinburgh.
Picasso is believed to have been a big fan, hanging one of his paintings in his studio after receiving it as a gift.
Mr Morris, who now lives in County Kildare, told The Times: ‘My wife died and I moved to Ireland to be with my family, so I had to reduce my collection. This is my last batch. I’ve just kept one Congo for myself.’
He was so popular his works were acquired by the likes of Pablo Picasso, Joan Miro and the Duke of Edinburgh. Picasso is believed to have been a big fan, hanging one of his paintings in his studio after receiving it as a gift
Each of the 55 Congo paintings will be priced between £1,500 and £6,000 each at the Mayor Gallery in London
Each of the 55 Congo paintings will be priced between £1,500 and £6,000 each at the Mayor Gallery in London.
In 2005, three of his pieces sold for an unexpected £14,000 at Bonhams auction house in London — far above the estimate of between £600 and £800.
Director of the Mayor Gallery James Mayor told CNN Congo’s paintings are ‘very good’, adding: ‘He was a fascinating painter.
‘People would imagine he’d just grab a pencil or a paper, but…he’d have several colors and he’d think before he painted…He was extraordinary.’
Desmond Morris is pictured with Congo and his friend Charlie on ITV’s Zoo Time, live from London Zoo, in 1956