Impressionists and Modernists: mixed results on the major sites
ARTinvestment.RU   15 ноября 2009

In early November in New York, the trades works of the Impressionists and modernists, prepared by auction houses Christie's and Sotheby's

In the beginning of November in New York, the trades the works of impressionists and modernists, prepared by auction houses Christie's and Sotheby's. Despite the fact that the trades were conducted with a slight difference in time, their results were not so close. Auction Christie's on Nov. 3 brought the total 56.8 million dollars *, and at Sotheby's, held the following day, the organizers managed to earn as much as 102 million more, ie, 158,6 million dollars .

Nevertheless, the results obtained by Christie's, fall well within the boundary estimate in 41,7-58,8 million dollars. Catalog of the auction was quite modest, so new records can not expect the cost. At Christie's offered much less lots than Sotheby's (40 to 68, respectively). But this frugality has not helped to avoid losses from unsold works, what turned out to be about 30 percent. Among them, one should note the portrait of Dora Maar (Dora Maar) brush Pablo Picasso (Pablo Picasso), entitled "Head of a Woman". This work has not found a buyer willing to pay for it from 7 to 10 million dollars. Among the works that remained unsold, you can also include two paintings by Camille Pissarro (Camille Pissarro), landscape Emile-Othon Vries (Emile-Othon Friesz), «The Rose" by Henri Matisse (Henri Matisse), «Portrait photographer Dilevska" Amedeo Modigliani (Amedeo Modigliani), «Kompozitsiiyu II, with a red" Piet Mondrian (Piet Mondrian), «was a woman" by Alberto Giacometti (Alberto Giacometti) and many other works.

But for some lots at Christie's struggle was very hot. For example, the beautiful pastel by Edgar Degas (Edgar Degas) «Dancer" went under the hammer for 9.5 million dollars. Puantilistskoe canvas Paul Signac (Paul Signac) «Old Port in Cannes," was sold for 3,3 million dollars, and "Portrait of the Marquise Somme» Tamara de Lempicka (Tamara de Lempicka) got a buyer for 3.8 million dollars. Good result and showed a picture of Salvador Dali (Salvador Dalí) «Naked on a plain background Rosas": it has brought 3.5 million and was ranked third in the list of the most expensive works of the author.

The next day, back at auction Sotheby's, another creation of Dali - gouache "Burning Giraffe", valued at 150-200 thousand dollars - more than estimate nearly 10 times and yielded 1.6 million . This record prices for works by the artist on paper was not the last bid at Sotheby's. It was followed by "Young Arab" Kees van Dongen (Kees van Dongen), sold for 12.25 million dollars in Estimé at 7-10 million, and "Boats in the Port Kolliura Andre Derain (André Derain), which instead of the expected 6 -8 ÍÉÌÌÉÏÎÏ× got a buyer for the 12.5 million dollars.

among other masterpieces, sold at Sotheby's that evening, also should be named three paintings by Picasso: "Male bust" (the price of 9,2 million), "A woman in a peasant's hat" (the price of 7,2 million ) and "Ten-Claude" (the price of 5,5 million). But the most impressive result at the auction on November 4, no doubt, boasts a sculpture by Alberto Giacometti's "falling man", which went under the hammer for 17.2 million dollars, far surpassing the estimate of 8.12 million dollars.

In general, the results of two auctions can say that the quality of work is still in great demand and prices are high. The current situation in the market mostly unfavorable for mid-level work, as well as for products with inflated prices.

Material prepared Ekaterina Guseva, AI

Sources: artprice.com , artinvestment.ru

* Here and later in the paper prices are excluding Buyer's Premium, so they may differ from those in other materials site.