recently in London were trading works by Impressionist and Modern, organized by the auction house Sotheby's and Christie's . The evening auction of Christie's, held on 23 June, brought 37 million pounds (60.4 million) and Sotheby's (June 24) - 33.5 million pounds (55.3 million dollars). Despite the fact that revenue from Sotheby's for a few million less, all agreed that those trades were more successful: the percentage of sold products amounted to 85%, while Christie's - 68%. Monetary Statistics of the Sotheby's is also higher: 91% versus «kristisovskih» 84%.

Both auctions were represented by high-quality work, but «blockbusters» with multimillion estimeytami was not. In difficult economic times, collectors prefer to keep their masterpieces with them, and are much easier to part with the work, if auction houses offer a good warranty. The only guaranteed fathomable June Impressionist and Modern auction is the canvas of Pablo Picasso (Pablo Picasso) depicting Musketeers, written in the twilight of a career artist - in 1969.

Fortunately for guaranteed customer demand for the late Picasso at auction was the thing. And Christie's, Sotheby's and presented the picture, entitled «The man with the sword», created when the artist was already 88-th year. Musketeer on a light background, exposed at Christie's, went for 5.8 million pounds when estimeyte 5-7 million. The former owner of a good income - in 2005, has cost him 2.7 million dollars. A «sotbisovsky» musketeer on a red background (the guaranteed lot) has the whole 7 million pounds in the evaluation of 6-8 million. Size it is smaller than the «light» brother, but his reproduction of a poster adorned the important exhibition of late works by Picasso, which was held in 1970 in the Pontifical Palace of Avignon.

Helena Newman (Helena Newman), vice-chairman of Impressionist and modern department of Sotheby's: «Twenty years ago, works by" blue "," pink "," kubisticheskogo "and" classical "period shall be the apex of creativity [Picasso ], they were the most desirable for collectors. Now people are interested in anything that has ever created Picasso: portraits of Dora MAARIV and Marie-Therese [Walter], still lives 1940's, late canvases ».

Christie's specialist Olivier Camus (Olivier Camu) said that the late paintings of Picasso can be a «bridge» between modernism and contemporary art (contemporary art). «While collectors' classic" Picasso gate nose of his late works, collectors of paintings of abstract expressionists, and even expressionists 1980's, like Jean-Michel Basque attract aesthetic quality and relatively modest price of these big, bright, colorful paintings ».

Head of Impressionist and Modern Christie's Bertatstsoni Giovanna (Giovanna Bertazzoni) notes that the later work of Picasso is not only interesting to the participants the art market, but also a curator. Before painting the 1960's considered almost a half-witted old doodle, and now they are devoting large museum exhibition. A recent catalog of the gallery Gagosyana (Gagosian Gallery) was printed essay Dakina Hart (Dakin Hart) under the name of Peace and Love Picasso, which states that the painting depicting Musketeers contain references not only to the creation of Rembrandt and Velazquez, but also to the youth movements of the time . Picasso, a staunch pacifist since the «Guernica» man of broad and general views, it is able to sympathize young hippies. According to Hart, he created his own «picturesque kontrkulturu Musketeers».

says art dealer from Geneva Safdi Gabriel (Gabriel Safdie), Picasso's late paintings are more attractive to young collectors who consider Cubism too dry and academic, and early - too dark and gloomy.

«Sotbisovskogo» musketeers acquired Lebanese financier Samir Trabulsi (Samir Traboulsi), and «kristisovsky» out a art dealer David Nahmadu (David Nahmad). Nahmadu and his family owned several hundred works by Picasso. He later began buying works by the artist in the early 1970's, when they cost 40-50 thousand pounds. «Blue period MAARIV Dora, Marie-Therese ... this is how real estate in [London area] Mayfeyr, Chelsea and Naytsbridzh - Nahmad said. - Fashion comes and goes, but eventually increases in the price».

Earlier, suspected that Nahmady specifically «spur» Picasso auction price for the value of works from their collections increased. «Anyone who tries to manipulate prices, lose money - pariruet David Nahmad. - Even if I die tomorrow, the market will live Picasso». He loves art of Picasso, which sometimes buys the painting the artist when it sold his family. «Art Market - it is for beauty and intelligence, - said the art dealer. - It is not intended to make a game like in casino».

In the past year, Picasso took first place in the list of Top-10 artists on the auction turnover in the money . He is also the author of the most expensive painting ever sold at auction .

Material prepared Yulia Maksimova, AI

Sources: moreintelligentlife.com , artinvestment.ru