evening auction "The Art of Impressionism and Modernism" held June 23 at Christie's. Their result amounted to 152,595,550 pounds (226,451,796 dollars). Of the 63 offered lots sold 46 (75%of lots), the statistics in monetary terms was 74%.

The overall result of the auction is a very high rate for the auction of art in the UK 8 works sold more than 5 million pounds, 31 work crossed the line in 1 million pounds. "Portrait of Angel Fernandez de Soto," Pablo Picasso went under the hammer for 34.8 million pounds (51,6 million dollars), is the second price for the work ever sold at auction Christie's in London. In the trades involved buyers from Europe (55%), American (40%) and Asia (5 %).

Giovanna Bertazoni, Director, Department of impressionist and modernist art, Christie's London: "Consumers from around the world today, fought for the lots, thereby demonstrating the willingness to buy rare and unique works of art. We are pleased to note that funds from the sale of paintings by Pablo Picasso's "Portrait of Angel Fernandez de Soto, who has gone under the hammer for more than 34 million pounds, would benefit the arts and culture in the UK, and we are pleased to know that the auction went down in history and broke the record bar in 150millionov £ ».

Top-lot auction was a masterpiece of" blue "period Pablo Picasso (1881-1973)« Portrait Angel Fernandez de Soto », which was sold for 34,761,250 pounds (51,585,695 dollars). Lot offered from a private collection of Art from the Andrew Lloyd Webber, a charitable organization, whose mission is to work to promote art and cultural heritage of Britain. The Fund acquired the painting at an auction of New York in May 1995 for 29.2 million dollars, today it was bought by an unknown buyer by phone.

Andrew Lloyd Webber: "I am very pleased that my fund now has more than 30 million pounds, especially in these harsh times. This significant amount will be sent directly to the activities of the fund - the development of architecture and support young talents of musical theaters ».

other top auction lots were:

• « Portrait Ria Munk III » - one of the greatest female portraits painted by Gustav Klimt (1862-1918), with an estimated cost of 14 to 18 million pounds, went under the hammer for the sum of 18,801,250 pounds (27,901,055 dollars).

• Work « Kiss » 1969 brush Pablo Picasso (1881-1973), created during the heyday of the creative artist, culminating in a series of important paintings, was sold for amount of 12,137,250 pounds (18,011,679). Exhibited at the famous Picasso show at the Papal Palace in Avignon in 1970, the work was bought by the previous owner in June 2003 to 2,861,600 pounds.

• « Park Hospital St. Paul »Brushes 1889 Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890), written by the artist during his stay in the hospital of St. Paul, for the year before his death (this period is considered one of the most important in its work). Available from the well-known private European collection, which was in 1960, and previously estimated at 12.8 million pounds, work has been sold within estimeyta for 9,001,250 pounds (13,357,855 dollars).

• « Nude on a long couch » 1923, an important and rich colors work on the brush Henri Matisse (1869-1954), which previously was the private collection of famous industrialist and collector Henry canon and not seen in public since, as was written, went under the hammer for 6,649,250 pounds (9,867,487 dollars) for Estima 5,5-8,5 million pounds.

Top-10 afternoon trading on June 23 "The Art of Impressionism and Modernism»

Source: press release Christie's