The sale Avant-Garde(s) including Thinking Italian was the highlight of the season, realising €59,017,050. Among its most notable works, Yves Klein’s largest monochrome, California, (IKB 71)–presented at auction for the first time–emerged as the triumph of the week, selling for €18,375,000 and setting a new French record for the artist. Alberto Giacometti’s Femme debout, which achieved €5,428,000, was another standout moment of the evening. The auctions also underscored the enduring appeal of modern and post-war masters: Giacometti, Dubuffet and Fontana all inspired strong bidding, reflecting both the vitality of the European market and the diversity of tastes among international collectors.

The Thinking Italian section totalled €8,505,620, led by Jannis Kounellis’s Alfabeti series work, which sold for €1,792,400—setting a new world record for the artist. Several works from Il Senso del Colore. Opere scelte dalla Collezione Alessandro Grassi, offered across the London and Paris auctions, were also among the most sought-after lots, including Grande quadro equestre italiano by Mario Schifano, which sold for €508,000 — five times its low estimate. Featuring a carefully curated selection of works spanning the entire 20th century — from a rare 1912 Balla to a provocative 1993 Cattelan — Thinking Italian once again underscored the growing recognition of Italian avant-garde movements and their resonance on the international stage.

In Moderne(s), une collection particulière européenne —the quality of provenance and refinement of the works offered drew considerable interest. Max Ernst’s Fruit d’une longue expérience achieved €3,293,000, quadrupling its estimate, and Paul Signac’s La Passerelle Debilly sold for €4,208,000, both marking new French records. The sale also included emblematic pieces by Domenico Gnoli and Louis Soutter, which saw spirited bidding, confirming the increasing demand for distinctive private collections.

The Art Moderne and Art Contemporain auctions also delivered strong performances: Édouard Manet’s Portrait d’Ambroise Adam dans le jardin de Pressagny, the artist’s first plein-air composition, soared to over eight times its estimate. Louis Hayet’s Route de Rouen Gisors – Après-midi, Soleil reached €215,900, setting a new world record for the artist. Animal sculptures by Rembrandt Bugatti from the Antolini Collection totalled €1,816,100. Jean Dubuffet’s Mire G 175 (Boléro) realised €533,400—doubling its estimate—while Lucio Fontana’s Concetto Spaziale, Attesa achieved €431,800, more than twice its estimate, confirming the continued strength of the market for leading post-war artists.

Our specialists are now preparing the upcoming 20th and 21st Century Art online sales, taking place from 24 November to 4 December, and remain at your disposal to provide complimentary and confidential valuations.

Christie’s will present the selling exhibition Attraverso / A Travers – Italian and French Art in Dialogue in Milan from 25 to 27 November.