Sotheby's will be no «Harlequin»
ARTinvestment.RU   28 октября 2008

November 3, at an auction of works of the Impressionists and modernists Sotheby's was to receive a very rare work of Pablo Picasso, but the owner suddenly decided not to put it on auction

Today, it became known that very rare paintings of Pablo Picasso (Pablo Picasso) «Harlequin» does not appear at auction Sotheby's on Nov. 3. The owner decided to withdraw the painting from auction.

Auction November 3, which will display outstanding works of the Impressionists and modernists, to be held in New York. Among the top lots - paintings Kazimir Malevich , by Edgar Degas (Edgar Degas), and Edvard Munch (Edvard Munch) . The work of Picasso is also considered one of the favorites of the auction: Sotheby's experts evaluated it in 30 million dollars. The painting belongs to the early, «kubisticheskomu» period of Picasso's creativity. Works of this period in the market, very little.

«She withdrew from bidding for personal reasons», - said David Norman (David Norman), co-chairman of the International Department of impressionist and modernist Sotheby's. He speaks on behalf of the seller. Earlier, rumors came that the picture may be withdrawn from the auction because of concerns that the market works of art waiting plight of financial markets.

The fact that the painting will be offered for auction, Sotheby's announced in September. Then it became known that the auction house sold without warranty. Under the implicit guarantee of the amount that the seller will receive, even if the product will not be sold. On Monday experts from the auction house said, and Sotheby's, and his chief rival, Christie's offered the owner of the painting a guarantee, but the work has gone to bid without it. In the contract of sale, which Sotheby's made with the owner of the painting, the condition was included, implying that the seller has the right to withdraw the product from bidding.

Previous picture «Harlequin» belonged-surrealist painter Enrico Donati (Enrico Donati). He bought it in the late 1940's about 12 thousand dollars. From 16 to 19 October, the picture could be seen at pre-show house Sotheby's in Moscow .

To the question whether the Sotheby's sale «Harlequin» in private, David Norman said that the picture is now off the market and sell it, no one is going.

Material prepared Yulia Maksimova

Source: nytimes.com , artinvestment.ru