Another triptych by Francis Bacon put up for auction
ARTinvestment.RU   07 апреля 2014

After the legendary sale of Francis Bacon triptych with Lusien Freud for 142.4 million dollars it was the turn of the triptych depicting his friend John Edwards. Lot will be at Christie's on May 13 with an estimate of $ 80 million

No sooner had the art market to recover from record sales Francis Bacon triptych "Three sketch Lusien Freud " 1969 for 142.4 million dollars , as for auction another triptych artist. At this time, Bacon served as a model John Edwards (John Edwards) - the main one the last years of his life and his only heir . Triptych " Three Sketches for a portrait of John Edwards ' 1984 will be at the auction of postwar and contemporary art at Christie's in New York on May 13 with an estimate of about $ 80 million . Thus, it is the second large-format triptych brush Bacon appeared at auction in the last six years (the first - the aforementioned triptych Lusien Freud ) . Total 28 artist created such large triptychs , and only 16 of them, according to Christie's, are in private hands .

« Three Sketches for a portrait of John Edwards ' very famous work , a lot of time to participate announcements Bacon. At the May auction it falls straight from the collection of Taiwanese businessman and collector Pierre Chen (Pierre Chen), which , in turn, acquired it in 2004-2005 for $ 15 million . Before him, this triptych owned Brazilian collector paid for Bacon creation in 2001 of $ 4.5 million .

Some experts suggest the art market that triptych with John Edwards, despite the size and provenance , though not as significant work as a triptych - record holder , sold for 142 million . First, during the writing of working with Edwards later and , according to critics , less important than the period when it was written triptych Lusien Freud . And secondly, John Edwards figure still not as prominent as Lusien Freud . Bacon wrote his friend Edwards quite a lot - about 20 times . Therefore, the estimate of 80 million dollars, only 5 million less than the original estimates of the triptych with Lusien Freud may be somewhat overstated .

Head of Post-War and Contemporary Art Christie's Francis Autrid in defense of a fair assessment of the lot said that not all customers need the most emotionally powerful things Bacon, surely someone is looking for something more quiet and peaceful, well in keeping with the home environment while being the undisputed Bacon. Auction May 13 just shows how strong the market works by Francis Bacon, who recently demonstrated downright phenomenal growth .

Prepared by Mary Onuchina , AI

Sources : nytimes.com , artinvestment.ru