The total amount paid for 10 top-lots of the outgoing year amounted to 915 million 157 thousand 400 dollars.
This year, the auctions did not have blockbuster-scale “savior of the World” by Leonardo da Vinci, sold for 450.3 million dollars in 2017. But in the top ten of the most expensive pieces, sold with a hammer, there are New world records for large artists. It should be noted that many of the top lots sold only a few bets, and sometimes less.
157 million 159 thousand Dollame
deo Modigliani, “Reclining nude (on the left side)”, 19
17sotheby’s New York, May 14, 2018
Reclining Nude (on the left side) Ammedeo Modigliani, 89.5 × 146.4 the cherished lying nude Amedeo Modigliani seldom appear at auctions. Therefore, when the Irish stud-breeder John Manier put on sale The biggest picture in the heritage of Italo-French expressionist, Sotheby’s, gave her the highest in its history a pre-sale estimate of 150 million dollars. However, the expectation of activity from the Asian collectors is not justified-the participants did not bet either in the trading room or on the phone. It came to the only irrevocable offer filed before the sale. Nevertheless, the “Reclining nude (on the left side)” became the most expensive lot ever sold on Sotheby’s, and the fourth most expensive picture in the world, Gone with a hammer. Not so bad.
115 million Pabl
o Picasso, “A girl with a flower basket”, 1905christ
ie’s New York, May 8, 2018 star lot f
rom the legacy of David and Peggy Rockefeller-a rare masterpiece of Pablo Picasso from the “Pink period”-received an estimate of 100 million dollars. The origin of the painting is impeccable: David Rockefeller bought it from the collection of Gertrude Stein.
But perhaps the fact that this is a portrait of a nude teenage girl who, apparently, was a prostitute, deterred some bidders. And it even more narrowed the already very small pool of potential buyers-collectors who can spend 100 million dollars on one picture.
And when it came to the auction, only one participant entered the game on the phone. He offered for a picture of 102 million (or 115 million dollars with a premium) and became a winner. Later, the New York Times reported that the buyer was a family of well-known collectors-dealers Nachmad. This autumn they borrowed half of the exhibition “Picasso. Blue and Pink “at the Musee Orce in Paris. 91 million 875 thousand Dollar
Edward Hopper, chop Sui, 1929
christie’s New York, November 13, 2018
The famous work of American master Edward Hopper “Chop Sui” received a preliminary estimate of 70 million dollars, although some believed that the thirst for possession of an instantly recognizable picture can raise the price above a hundred million dollars. It did not come to this, but those present witnessed a vigorous bargaining between two of Christie’s employees who represented their clients on the phone. In the end, it won a bet of 85 million dollars, which, together with the prize, turned into 91.8 million-a record sum not only for the author, but for the entire category of “American Art”, to which the auction house relates pre-war artists.
Chop Suiedward hopper1929, 96.5 × 81 SM90 million 312 thousand. 500 Dollrod
avid Hockney, “Portrait of an artist (pool with two figures)”, 19
72christie’s New York, November 15, 2018
Backstage auction deals based on guarantees did not attract Joe Lewis, the owner of the double portrait of David Hockney. And he offered a picture for sale without reserve. Therefore, when the bidding began with 18 million dollars, in Christie’s Hall began to stir, as a result of which the price jumped to 55 million dollars. From that moment the struggle continued between the four contenders until the price reached 80 million dollars — actually, pre-sale valuation. Taking into account the charges, the total amount amounted to 90.3 million dollars, and this Hockney overthrew Jeff Kunsa from the pedestal of the most expensive living artist in the world.
Portrait of an artist (pool with two figures) David Hokn1972, 305 × 214 cm
85 million 812 thousand 500 dollar K
azimir Malevich, “supreatitic composition”, 1916chr
istie’s New York, May 15, 2018 the si
ze of this picture Kazimir Malevich only 88 to 71 cm, but in this small canvas and underlined a lot of money-now it costs 13 thousand. 659.8 dollars per square centimeter.
This rare “Supreatite composition” was bought by Christie’s Brett Gorvey, co-owner of the gallery Lévy Gorvy, for 76 million dollars (or 85.8 million with the Commission). The result, which exceeded the preliminary estimate of 70 million dollars, became a new record for the Russian artist. 84 million 687 thousand. 500 dollar-Cla
ude Monet, “Water Lilies in bloom”, approx. 1914 −
17christie’s New York, May 8, 2018
In recent years, the Asian connoisseurs were delighted with Claude Monet, and Prodenans “from the collection of David Rockefeller” added the attractiveness of the landscape of the series of the Kuvshnok. One of the buyers from this region made a high enough bid to set a new record for the artist. Despite the fact that “water lilies in bloom” received a preliminary estimate of 50 million dollars, an anonymous collector offered one and a half times more and became the owner of the canvas.
Water Lilies in cvetuklod moin1917, 160.3 × 180 SM80 million 750 thousand. Dollari
ri Matisse, “Reclining Odaliska with Magnolias”,
1923christie’s New York, May 8, 2018
This work by Henri Matisse of the Rockefeller Collection also set a record for the artist — and was also bought on behalf of the bidder on the phone. The last rate of 71.5 million dollars exceeded the preliminary estimate of one and a half million, and the canvas went to Asia.
Reclining Odaliska with Maglyanhenri matiss1923, 60.5 × 81.1 cm 71 million 187 thousand. 500 dollar
Konstantin Brancusi, “Young Woman (Portrait of Nancy Canard)”, 1
932christie’s New York, May 15, 2018
This stylized portrait of the heiress of the shipping business and muse Nancy Kanard was estimated at $70 million. Statuette was sold for the amount below the estate, for 63 million dollars, to the bidder on the phone. Nevertheless, the work set a record for the creativity of Konstantin Brancuzi, beating the “Sleeping Muse” (1913), which was sold for 57.3 million dollars in May 2017.
68 million 937 thousand 504 Dollar Wi
llem de Koering, “woman as a Landscape”, approx. 1954 −
55christie’s New York, November 13, 2018
Christie’s set a new record for Willem de Koing when this work was bought by an anonymous collector on the phone for 61 million dollars — only a million more than the lower threshold of the ettimet. But this record and next did not stand with the price of 300 million, for which was sold in a closed deal of his “exchange” (1955).
- Konstantin Brancusi, “Young Woman (Portrait of Nancy Kanard)”, 1932. Private collection
- Willem de Koering, “woman as a Landscape”, approx. 1954-5 Private collection
69 million 435 thousand 900 dollars
Pablo Picasso, “Woman in Beret and plaid dress (Maria Teresa Walter)”, 193
7sotheby’s London, 28 February 2018
In the end of February British firm Gurr Johns for two days has bought 13 works of Pablo Picasso for 112, 5 million pound sterling (155.2 million US dollars). Much of this amount was spent on the portrait of Maria Theresa Walter, the muse of the artist. His preliminary estimate was 32 million pounds, but the hammer fell at 44 million, and the additional charges brought the figure to 49.8 million pounds sterling.
Woman in beret and plaid dress (Maria Teresa Walter) Pablo pickasso1937