10 novembre 2015 – La Evening Sale di arte contemporanea da Christie’s a New York ha totalizzato 331,809,000 dollari, con 15 invenduti su 70 lotti offerti. Meno della metà del risultato del novembre del 2014, quando fu raggiunto il totale più alto di sempre per la casa d’aste di Pinault con 852,887,000 dollari.
Due opere sono state vendute sopra i 30 milioni di dollari, quattro sopra i 20 e nove sopra i 10 milioni.
Diversi i record infranti. Citiamo primo fra tutti Lucio Fontana. Dopo il recente record londinese da Sotheby’s (15,941,000 £ / 24,581,022 USD) per una Fine di Dio nera, ora gli esperti di Christie’s ne hanno proposta una gialla che è stata battuta, senza troppi rilanci, a $29,173,000 (era stimata 25/30 milioni di dollari).
Gara serrata invece per Mario Schifano che ha segnato il suo nuovo record con “Cleopatra’s Dream”, partito da 150.000 dollari, ma aggiudicato a $893,000.
E ancora il gigantesco Spider di Louise Bourgeois (1911-2010) con i $28,165,000 realizzati, ha superato i 10.722.500 $ del top price precedente di un altro ragno monumentale venduto all’asta nel 2011.
Tra gli altri artisti che hanno segnato un nuovo record d’asta citiamo tra cui Claes Oldenburg, Joe Bradley, Felix Gonzalez-Torres e Richard Pousette-Dart.
Il prezzo più alto della serata spetta alle quattro Marilyn di Andy Warhol, battute a $36,005,000. Segue poco distante il Brigadiere di Lucien Freud con $34,885,000. L’opera proveniva dalla collezione di Damon Mezzacappa, che è stato vicepresidente della banca d’affari Lazard ed è scomparso lo scorso aprile. È stato un grande appassionato d’arte, collezionista di opere del Novecento sia figurative che astratte. “The Brigadier” ritrae il nobile inglese Andrew Parker Bowles, primo marito di Camilla Shand (ora duchessa di Cornovaglia, dopo il matrimonio con il principe Carlo). Il ritratto di Freud alla figlia Bella andato in asta ieri sera, 9 novembre, è invece rimasto invenduto.
Anche se Andy Warhol si è aggiudicato il top price della serata, le altre sue cinque opere in catalogo non sono state apprezzate dai collezionisti: tutte invendute, tranne una sedia elettrica del 1964 che è arrivata a $11,589,000 da una stima di 6/9 milioni.
Tutti venduti i sette lotti di Alexander Calder, che da soli stimavano tra i 12 e i 18 milioni di dollari. Le aggiudicazioni sono state ben al di sopra delle stime. Ben sei facevano parte della collezione di Arthur e Anita Kahn, dedicata principalmente a opere americane del dopoguerra. I coniugi Kahn hanno seguito il lavoro di Calder per tutta la vita. I suoi mobile, ma anche i suoi gioielli e le opere su carta, raccolti dai due appassionati collezionisti erano diventati una delle collezioni più grandi in man private dedicate allo scultore statunitense.
Così il lotto 1, “Red Crescent, Blue Post”, da $500,000 è salito fino a $2,405,000; “Demi Gondola” da $1,800,000 è arrivato $8,005,000; “Stabile with Mobile Element” da 500,000 a $4,085,000; “The Fish” da $1,500,000 a $5,093,000; e ancora “Vertical out of Horizontal” partito da 2 milioni si è fermato a $9,573,000.
Se l’inizio della vendita è stato così brillante, sul finire – dove si è concentrata la maggior parte degli invenduti – è andata un po’ spegnandosi. Prima di fare bilanci, c’è ancora da vedere come andrà la Evening Sale di Arte impressionista e moderna che chiuderà giovedì 12 le aste serali di questa settimana di fuoco.
Il catalogo con tutti i risultati:
Alexander Calder (1898-1976)
Red Crescent, Blue Post
standing mobile—sheet metal, wire and paint 16 x 23 x 8 in. (40.6 x 58.4 x 20.3 cm.)
ESTIMATE $500,000 – $700,000
PRICE REALIZED
$2,405,000
Alexander Calder (1898-1976)
Stabile with Mobile Element
standing mobile—sheet metal, string and paint 24 x 24 x 15 in. (60.9 x 60.9 x 38.1 cm.)
ESTIMATE $500,000 – $700,000
PRICE REALIZED
$4,085,000
David Smith (1906-1965)
Agricola XIII
steel and stainless steel 35 1/2 x 43 x 12 in. (90.2 x 109.2 x 30.5 cm.)
ESTIMATE $500,000 – $700,000
PRICE REALIZED
$5,765,000
Alexander Calder (1898-1976)
Vertical out of Horizontal
hanging mobile—sheet metal, wire and paint 54 x 61 x 40 in. (137.2 x 154.9 x 101.6 cm.)
ESTIMATE $500,000 – $700,000
PRICE REALIZED
$9,573,000
Alexander Calder (1898-1976)
Bullfight
hanging mobile—sheet metal, wire and paint20 x 84 x 32 in. (50.8 x 213.4 x 81.3 cm.)
ESTIMATE$500,000 – $700,000
PRICE REALIZED
$4,645,000
Richard Pousette-Dart (1916-1992)
Blood Wedding
diptych—oil on canvasoverall: 77 x 112 3/4 in. (195.6 x 286.4 cm.)
ESTIMATE$500,000 – $700,000
PRICE REALIZED
$2,629,000
Alexander Calder (1898-1976)
Demi Gondola
hanging mobile—sheet metal, wood, wire and paint30 1/2 x 61 x 26 1/2 in. (77.5 x 154.9 x 67.3 cm.)
ESTIMATE$500,000 – $700,000
PRICE REALIZED
$8,005,000
David Smith (1906-1965)
Tanktotem VIII
painted steel79 1/2 x 29 x 11 1/2 in. (201.9 x 73.7 x 29.2 cm)
ESTIMATE$500,000 – $700,000
PRICE REALIZED
$4,869,000
Alexander Calder (1898-1976)
The Fish
hanging mobile—sheet metal, wire and paint34 1/8 x 68 3/4 x 37 1/4 in. (86.7 x 174.6 x 94.6 cm.)
ESTIMATE$500,000 – $700,000
PRICE REALIZED
5,093,000
Louise Bourgeois (1911-2010)
Spider
bronze128 1/2 x 298 x 278 in. (326.3 x 756.9 x 706 cm.)
ESTIMATE$500,000 – $700,000
PRICE REALIZED
$4,085,000
Gerhard Richter (B. 1932)
Monstein
oil on canvas39 3/4 x 59 ½ in. (101 x 151 cm.)
ESTIMATE$500,000 – $700,000
PRICE REALIZED
$4,085,000
Roy Lichtenstein (1923-1997)
Interior with Yves Klein Sculpture
oil and Magna on canvas120 x 170 ¼ in. (304.8 x 432.4 cm.)
ESTIMATE$500,000 – $700,000
PRICE REALIZED
$6,661,000
Agnes Martin (1912-2004)
Happy Valley
acrylic, graphite and ink on canvas72 x 72 in. (182.8 x 182.8 cm.)
ESTIMATE$500,000 – $700,000
PRICE REALIZED
$6,325,000
Bruce Nauman (B. 1941)
Untitled (Hand Group)
phosphorous bronze 21 x 27 1/2 x 7 in. (53.3 x 69.8 x 17.8 cm.)
ESTIMATE $500,000 – $700,000
PRICE REALIZED
$4,197,000
Lucio Fontana (1899-1968)
Concetto spaziale, La fine di Dio
oil on shaped canvas70 1/4 x 48 1/2 in. (178.4 x 123.2 cm.)
ESTIMATE$500,000 – $700,000
PRICE REALIZED
$29,173,000
Alberto Burri (1915-1995)
Bianco Plastica
plastic, acrylic, combustion, vinavil on cellotex 61 3/8 x 78 7/8 in. (156 x 200.5 cm.)
ESTIMATE $500,000 – $700,000
PRICE REALIZED
$2,165,000
Cy Twombly (1928-2011)
Untitled
oil-based house paint, oil paint, wax crayon and lead pencil on canvas58 1/8 x 77 1/8 in. (147.6 x 195.8 cm.)
ESTIMATE$500,000 – $700,000
PRICE REALIZED
$17,525,000
Jean Dubuffet (1901-1985)
Cote Chipote
oil on canvas44 7/8 x 57 ½ in. (114 x 146 cm.)
ESTIMATE$500,000 – $700,000
UNSOLD
Roy Lichtenstein (1923-1997)
Glass V
painted and patinated bronze69 5/8 x 37 3/4 x 17 3/4 in. (176.8 x 95.9 x 45.1 cm.)
ESTIMATE$500,000 – $700,000
PRICE REALIZED
$2,853,000
Andy Warhol (1928-1987)
Four Marilyns
acrylic, silkscreen ink and graphite on canvas28 3/4 x 21 3/4 in. (73 x 55.2 cm.)
ESTIMATE$500,000 – $700,000
PRICE REALIZED
$36,005,000
Andy Warhol (1928-1987)
Late Four-Foot Flowers
acrylic, silkscreen inks and graphite on canvas48 x 48 in. (121.9 x 121.9 cm.)
ESTIMATE$500,000 – $700,000
UNSOLD
Roy Lichtenstein (1923-1997)
Mirror #9 (36 diameter)
oil and Magna on shaped canvasdiameter: 36 in. (91.4 cm.)
ESTIMATE$500,000 – $700,000
PRICE REALIZED
$4,197,000
Andy Warhol (1928-1987)
Self-Portrait (Nine Times)
acrylic and silkscreen ink on nine attached canvaseseach: 8 x 8 in. (20.3 x 20.3 cm.)overall: 24 x 24 in. (61 x 61 cm.)
ESTIMATE$500,000 – $700,000
UNSOLD
JASPER JOHNS (B. 1930)
Untitled
unique monotype in colors on Arches 88 paperImage: 30 1/8 x 90 ¼ in. (77 x 229 cm.)Sheet: 36 ¾ x 95 ½ in. (93 x 243 cm.)
ESTIMATE$500,000 – $700,000
PRICE REALIZED
$1,565,000
Claes Oldenburg (b. 1929)
Clothespin Ten Foot
Cor-Ten steel and stainless steel120 x 44 x 24 in. (304.8 x 111.7 x 61 cm.)
ESTIMATE$500,000 – $700,000
PRICE REALIZED
$3,637,000
Claes Oldenburg (b. 1929)
Typewriter Eraser
acrylic on aluminum, ferrocement and stainless steel32 x 35 x 23 in. (81.3 x 88.9 x 58.4 cm.)
ESTIMATE$500,000 – $700,000
PRICE REALIZED
$1,085,000
Alexander Calder (1898-1976)
Little Fountain
standing mobile—sheet metal, bolts and paint65 x 108 x 108 in. (165.1 x 274.3 x 274.3 cm.)
ESTIMATE$500,000 – $700,000
PRICE REALIZED
$4,421,000
Andy Warhol (1928-1987)
Little Electric Chair
acrylic and silkscreen ink on canvas22 x 28 in. (55.9 x 71.1 cm.)
ESTIMATE$500,000 – $700,000
PRICE REALIZED
$11,589,000
Francis Bacon (1909-1992)
Two Studies for Portrait
diptych—oil on canvaseach: 14 x 12 in. (35.5 x 30.5 cm.)(2)
ESTIMATE$500,000 – $700,000
UNSOLD
Joan Mitchell (1925-1992)
Untitled
oil on canvas76 3/4 x 73 in. (194.9 x 185.4 cm.)
ESTIMATE$500,000 – $700,000
UNSOLD
Lucian Freud (1922-2011)
The Brigadier
oil on canvas88 1/8 x 54 1/2 in. (223.8 x 138.4 cm.)
ESTIMATE$500,000 – $700,000
PRICE REALIZED
$34,885,000
Helen Frankenthaler (1928-2011)
Las Mayas
oil on canvas100 x 43 1/4 in. (254 x 109.9 cm.)
ESTIMATE$500,000 – $700,000
PRICE REALIZED
$2,405,000
Clyfford Still (1904-1980)
PH-148 (1960-F)
oil on canvas112 1/2 x 144 ½ in. (285.7 x 367 cm.)
ESTIMATE$500,000 – $700,000
PRICE REALIZED
$10,133,000
Willem de Kooning (1904-1997)
Figures in a Landscape #2
oil on paper laid down on canvas30 1/4 x 35 1/8 in. (76.8 x 89.2 cm.)
ESTIMATE$500,000 – $700,000
PRICE REALIZED
$1,565,000
Mario Schifano (1934-1998)
Cleopatra’s Dream
enamel and paper laid down on canvas51 1/8 x 47 1/4 in. (129.8 x 120 cm.)
ESTIMATE$500,000 – $700,000
PRICE REALIZED
$893,000
Giovanni Anselmo (B. 1934)
Untitled
galvanized metal and brick8 1/4 x 51 1/2 x 82 3/4 in. (21 x 130.8 x 210.2 cm.)
ESTIMATE$500,000 – $700,000
PRICE REALIZED
$509,000
Mario Merz (1925-2003)
Teatro Cavallo
neon tubes and plastic tubes98 7/8 x 118 1/8 x 19 5/8 in. (251.1 x 300 x 49.8 cm.)
ESTIMATE$500,000 – $700,000
PRICE REALIZED
605,000
Jannis Kounellis (B. 1936)
Untitled
oil on canvas with metal shelves and plaster fragments94 x 116 1/4 in. (240 x 290 cm.)
ESTIMATE$500,000 – $700,000
PRICE REALIZED
$749,000
Michelangelo Pistoletto (B. 1933)
Biennale 66
four panels—painted tissue paper on polished stainless steeleach: 90 5/8 x 47 1/4 in. (230.2 x 120 cm.)overall: 90 5/8 x 196 3/4 in. (230.2 x 499.7 cm.)
ESTIMATE$500,000 – $700,000
PRICE REALIZED
$3,861,000
Richard Prince (B. 1949)
Every Window in the Place
acrylic on canvas56 x 48 in. (142.2 x 121.9 cm.)
ESTIMATE$500,000 – $700,000
PRICE REALIZED
$2,045,000
Christopher Wool (B. 1955)
Untitled
enamel on aluminum108 x 72 in. (274.3 x 182.9 cm.)
ESTIMATE$500,000 – $700,000
PRICE REALIZED
$16,965,000
Glenn Ligon (B. 1960)
Stranger #37
oil stick and gesso on canvas96 x 72 in. (245.8 x 182.9 cm.)
ESTIMATE$500,000 – $700,000
PRICE REALIZED
2,909,000
Felix Gonzalez-Torres (1957-1996)
Untitled (L.A.)
green candies individually wrapped in cellophane, endless supplyoverall dimensions vary with installationideal weight: 50 lbs (22.7 kg)
ESTIMATE$500,000 – $700,000
PRICE REALIZED
$7,669,000
Jeff Koons (B. 1955)
Balloon Swan (Yellow)
mirror-polished stainless steel with transparent color coating138 x 119 x 94 in. (350.5 x 302.3 x 238.8 cm.)
ESTIMATE$500,000 – $700,000
PRICE REALIZED
$14,725,000
Jean-Michel Basquiat (1960-1988)
Saxaphone
acrylic and oilstick on canvas66 x 60 in. (167.6 x 152.4 cm.)
ESTIMATE$500,000 – $700,000
UNSOLD
Roy Lichtenstein (1923-1997)
Head with Braid and Feathers
oil and Magna on canvas70 x 50 in. (177.8 x 127 cm.)
ESTIMATE$500,000 – $700,000
PRICE REALIZED
$2,629,000
Julie Mehretu (b. 1970)
Untitled
diptych—acrylic, ink and graphite on canvas each: 72 x 96 in. (182.8 x 243.8 cm.)
ESTIMATE $500,000 – $700,000
PRICE REALIZED
$2,285,000
Joe Bradley (B. 1975)
Tres Hombres
oil, crayon, spraypaint and fabric collage on canvas90 3/8 x 80 1/4 in. (229.5 x 203.8 cm.)
ESTIMATE$500,000 – $700,000
PRICE REALIZED
$3,077,000
Willem de Kooning (1904-1997)
Porch in a Landscape
oil on canvas59 1/4 x 55 in. (151.1 x 139.7 cm.)
ESTIMATE$500,000 – $700,000
UNSOLD
Joan Mitchell (1925-1992)
Untitled
oil on canvas63 3/4 x 51 1/8 in. (161.9 x 129.9 cm.)
ESTIMATE$500,000 – $700,000
PRICE REALIZED
$2,405,000
Jasper Johns (B. 1930)
Untitled (Gray Painting with Spoon)
encaustic on canvas with ruler, magnet and spoon26 1/8 x 20 1/4 in. (66.4 x 51.4 cm.)
ESTIMATE$500,000 – $700,000
UNSOLD
Marcel Duchamp (1887-1968)
Prière de toucher
foam-rubber breast and black velvet on board10 x 9 in. (25.4 x 22.9 cm.)
ESTIMATE$500,000 – $700,000
PRICE REALIZED
$485,000
Wayne Thiebaud (b. 1920)
Booth Girl
oil on canvas72 x 48 in. (182.8 x 121.9 cm.)
ESTIMATE$500,000 – $700,000
UNSOLD
Jasper Johns (B. 1930)
Untitled
oil on canvas48 1/4 x 60 1/4 in. (122.5 x 153 cm.)
ESTIMATE$500,000 – $700,000
UNSOLD
Wayne Thiebaud (b. 1920)
Penny Slot
oil on panel21 3/4 x 17 in. (55.2 x 43.1 cm.)
ESTIMATE$500,000 – $700,000
PRICE REALIZED
$2,405,000
Carl Andre (B. 1935)
Eighty-First Copper Cardinal
eighty-one elements—coppereach: 19 3/4 x 19 3/4 in. (50.2 x 50.2)overall: 177 1/8 x 177 1/8 in. (450 x 450 cm.)
ESTIMATE$500,000 – $700,000
UNSOLD
Sol LeWitt (1928-2007)
Modular Floor Structure
baked enamel on steel22 7/8 x 129 3/8 x 129 1/8 in. (58.2 x 328.3 x 328 cm.)
ESTIMATE$500,000 – $700,000
PRICE REALIZED
$605,000
Dan Flavin (1933-1996)
untitled (to Barnett Newman) four
yellow, blue and red fluorescent light95 7/8 x 47 7/8 x 7 7/8 in. (243.5 x 121.6 x 20 cm.)
ESTIMATE$500,000 – $700,000
PRICE REALIZED
$437,000
Roy Lichtenstein (1923-1997)
Standing Explosion #2 (Yellow)
porcelain enamel on steel36 3/4 x 26 1/4 x 25 in. (93.3 x 66.6 x 63.5 cm.)
ESTIMATE$500,000 – $700,000
PRICE REALIZED
$905,000
Arman (1928-2005)
Grande Poubelle
accumulation of studio refuse in Plexiglas box with lid49 1/4 x 24 3/4 x 24 3/8 in. (125 x 63 x 62 cm.)
ESTIMATE$500,000 – $700,000
UNSOLD
Robert Rauschenberg (1925-2008)
Untitled
oil, pencil, fabric and paper on canvas with letter in sealed envelope in wood and glass frame16 x 20 in. (40.6 x 50.8 cm.)
ESTIMATE$500,000 – $700,000
PRICE REALIZED
$1,565,000
Gilbert & George (B. 1943 & B. 1942)
Dead Boards No. 5
mixed mediaeach: 23 7/8 x 19 7/8 in. (60.6 x 50.5 cm.)overall: 97 x 81 in. (246.4 x 205.7 cm.)
ESTIMATE$500,000 – $700,000
PRICE REALIZED
$965,000
Gilbert & George (B. 1943 & B. 1942)
They
mixed mediaeach: 23 3/4 x 19 7/8 in. (60.3 x 50.5 cm.)overall: 95 x 79 1/2 in. (242 x 202 cm.)
ESTIMATE$500,000 – $700,000
PRICE REALIZED
$461,000
Anselm Kiefer (B. 1945)
Der Ölberg
oil on canvas86 3/4 x 118 3/8 in. (220.3 x 300.7 cm.)
ESTIMATE$500,000 – $700,000
PRICE REALIZED
$1,025,000
Andy Warhol (1928-1987)
Joseph Beuys (Diamond Dust)
acrylic and silkscreen ink with diamond dust on canvas40 x 40 in. (101.6 x 101.6 cm.)
ESTIMATE$500,000 – $700,000
UNSOLD
Lee Krasner (1908-1984)
Night Birds
oil on canvas71 3/4 x 142 3/4 in. (182.2 x 362.6 cm.)
ESTIMATE$500,000 – $700,000
PRICE REALIZED
$1,925,000
Willem de Kooning (1904-1997)
Man
oil on paper laid down on canvas56 x 42 in. (142.2 x 104.1 cm.)
ESTIMATE$500,000 – $700,000
UNSOLD
Sterling Ruby (b. 1972)
SP31
spray paint on synthetic canvas100 x 144 in. (254 x 365.8 cm.)
ESTIMATE$500,000 – $700,000
UNSOLD
Franz West (1947-2012)
Zag
epoxy resin, enamel and metal base181 x 19 3/4 x 19 3/4 in. (460 x 50 x 50 cm.)
ESTIMATE$500,000 – $700,000
UNSOLD
Andy Warhol (1928-1987)
Siberian Tiger
synthetic polymer and silkscreen inks on canvas60 x 60 in. (152.4 x 152.4 cm.)
ESTIMATE$500,000 – $700,000
UNSOLD