agency Bloomberg reported that at Christie's auction in London on June 23 will be a masterpiece of "blue period" Picasso - "Portrait of Angel Fernandez de Soto", or, otherwise, "Absinth Drinker" ( 1903). Now the picture belonged to the Andrew Lloyd-Webber (Andrew Lloyd-Webber). Preliminary assessment of the work - 30-40 million pounds (45,9-60,9 million) - a record for the European auctions: the first time in the Old World for auction is exposed to work with such a high estimate:.

Money from the sale of paintings will go to charity.

Fund has once again gave the" Fans of absinthe "on the auction. The picture was supposed to appear at Christie's in November 2006 (with an estimate of 40-60 million dollars), but it was removed from the auction, as the heir showed up pre-war owner, who claimed that the work is subject to restitution. German historian Julius Schoeps (Julius Schoeps) said that his great-uncle, a Jewish collector Paul von Mendelssohn-Bartholdy (Paul von Mendelssohn-Bartholdy), was forced to sell the canvas under the pressure of the Nazis. In late 2009 Fund Lloyd-Webber was able to negotiate with Shepsi , and the heir renounced claims to the picture. Details of the agreement are kept secret.

Fund acquired the work in 1995 on the sale of the collection of spouses Stralem (Stralem), arranged by auction house Sotheby's. For now been paid 29.2 million dollars. These funds came from the pockets of the Lloyd-Webber. According to the list Sunday Times Rich List, published in April 2009, the state of the famous composer, is estimated at 750 million pounds.

According Bertatstsoni Giovanna (Giovanna Bertazzoni), head of the office of impressionists and modernists Christie's London, Picasso's "blue period" has all the chances to attract the attention of new collectors from China, which buy the masterpieces, no matter what historical era they may belong.

«art market has changed radically since then, as Lord Lloyd Webber bought the painting in 1995 - said Pilkkanen Jussi (Jussi Pylkkanen), president of Christie's Europe, Russia and the Middle East. - Today's collectors more than ever, seek to purchase outstanding works of the museum is a class. "

Bertatstsoni argues that the owner of "Absinth Drinker" was inspired to sell after the world learned about the phenomenal result of the auction transaction with bronze Giacometti Walking man I» . February 3 this year brought the sculpture at Sotheby's 65 million pounds (104.3 million dollars), which was the highest price ever paid for a work of art at public auction. They say that the buyer was a Brazilian banker's widow Lily Safra (Lily Safra).

In the past 22 years at Christie's was sold only four important paintings of the "blue period". The most expensive painting master refers to the period of "pink": painting « Boy with a Pipe" in 1905 was Sold in May 2004, the first of 104,2 million dollars (auction Sotheby's) . To record Giacometti, she ranked first in the list of the most expensive works of art.

«Absinth Drinker" is not the only sverhdorogoe creation of Picasso, which will appear this year at Christie's. Recently, it was announced that at the May auction will be available in 1932 painting "Nude, green leaves and bust" , which predicts withdrawal than 80 million dollars. It is reported that Christie's had given the seller a guarantee. As for the "Fans of absinthe," then there were no such measures. In the critical time auction houses have been very stingy on the guarantee, which negatively affected the number of exhibited to bid the work of the highest quality.

In 2009, Pablo Picasso was in first place on the auction revenue . According Artprice.com his works brought a total of 121 million dollars.

article prepared by Julia Maksimova, AI

Source: bloomberg , artinvestment.ru