Sixty works by artists of the twentieth century, exhibited at London's Sotheby's auction in 1910 February , flew like hot cakes. The overall result of trades was 93.5 million pounds (150.5 million dollars) for the preliminary assessment of 39-55 million pounds.

All lots were from one private collection, whose owner wished to remain unnamed (but dealers say that the work belonged to the deceased in the past year collector from Geneva Georges Kostalitsu (GeorgeKostalitz)). The works were bought by dealers and at public auction in 1960-90-ies.

At the auction set a new auction record for a surrealistic painting: "Portrait of Paul Eluard" authorship Salvador Dalí left for 13 , 5 million pounds, or 21.7 million dollars (estimate 3,5-5 million). For now fought five clients Sotheby's.

Salvador Dali Portrait of Paul Eluard 1929. Source: bloomberg.com

«We now will often offer Dali" - says the head of the department of modern art Sotheby's Tobias Meyer (Tobias Meyer). Surprisingly, in spite of the popularity of the artist's early creations - which are valued above all on the auction market - appear in the auction are rare. "Portrait of Paul Eluard," was written in 1929 when the famous Spaniard was only twenty-five.

the largest amount - 23 million pounds - brought "Three sketch a portrait of Freud Lusiena" brush Francis Bacon, not seen by the public since 1965. Sotheby's specialists evaluated the pattern of 7-9 million. It is rumored that some time ago, "Three Sketches" were trying to sell privately for $ 25 million. Maybe now they will go to us: the final price at Sotheby's called the Cologne gallery owner Alex Lachmann (Alex Lachmann), which usually buys Russian collectors.

Francis Bacon Three sketch for a portrait Lusiena Freud. 1964. Source: artinfo.com

Tiny (12,5 x 9,5) self-portrait of himself Lusiena Freud bought for an impressive 3.3 million pounds (preliminary assessment - 600-800 thousand). The last picture seen at auction in 1992, then the seller could fetch 88,000 pounds. The same buyer paid 3.4 million for the "Queen of Sheba» Marc by Marc Chagall , one of four paintings by the master, ordered to decorate the living room collector.

Another outstanding price - 4.6 million pounds of iron sculptures of Spanish artist Julio Gonzalez (Julio González). It was expected that it will buy a 0,8-1,2 million.

Auction has become the most successful sellout private collection of impressionist and modernist of all that has ever been held in London. Millionth threshold exceeded twenty-five works, with an average price per lot was 1.6 million pounds.

material was prepared by Julia Maksimova, AI

Sources: bloomberg.com , artinvestment.ru