 | |||
|
In a packed auction room led by François de Ricqlès, President of Christie’s France,
the sale of Impressionist and Modern Art achieved a total of €48,829,013, selling 82% by lot
and 96% by value. The star of this impressive show was undoubtedly the elegant and sophisticated
masterpiece, Tête, by Amedeo Modigliani which broke numerous records.
Previously in the collection of Gaston Lévy, this majestic work was first shown at the Salon d’Automne in 1912. Together with Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse, Amedeo Modigliani was one of very few artists in his generation to excel in painting, drawing and sculpture. Of the 27 sculptures Modigliani is known to have created, most are in the collections of international museums, and only ten remain in private hands making it very rare that an example should be offered at auction. Considered amongst the finest of the artist's sculptures the Tête was exhibited at Christie’s New York earlier this year. When it attracted the attention of numerous American collectors who participated in the auction. In Monday's sale, 20 prospective buyers – including 15 telephone bidders – entered into a fierce bidding war for the sculpture that lasted over 10 minutes. At the €25,000,000 mark, 4 bidders remained in the fight and continued to drive the price higher. When the final bid was hammered down, the sculpture sold for €43,185,000 with premium (£35,886,735 / $52,620,923), establishing a new world auction record for any work of art by the artist and a new record for the most expensive work of art ever sold at auction in France. Following the new records and exceptional results of the most recent Impressionist and Modern Art sale at Christie’s New York in May, this sale confirmed a vigorous market in which collectors demonstrated an insatiable appetite for works of great rarity and with important provenance. With buyers from across the globe and the facility to bid online, via telephone and in person, Christie’s continues to be the leading auction house to sell and buy in every category. We look forward to continuing this success at the next sale of Impressionist and Modern Art which will take place at Christie’s London on 23 June and throughout the London auction season. Visit us soon on www.christies.com.
|
|
LOTFINDER LINK > WATCH VIDEO > VIEW COMPETE RESULTS > |
|
|
|
|
FROM THE COLLECTION OF GASTON LEVY (1893–1977) AMEDEO MODIGLIANI (1884–1920) Tête signed 'MODIGLIANI' (on the reverse) limestone Height: 64 cm. (25 1/4 in.) Executed circa 1910–12 Estimate €4,000,000 – €6,000,000 ($4,854,081 – $7,281,121) Sold for €43,185,000 ($52,405,870) * HIGHEST PRICE ACHIEVED FOR A WORK OF ART SOLD IN FRANCE EVER * WORLD RECORD PRICE FOR A WORK OF ART BY THE ARTIST SOLD AT AUCTION |
|
|