I sogni dorati della musa di Brancusi valgono 57,367,500 da Christie’s (un quinto del totale di 289,178,500 $, il doppio dei 141,532,000 dell’omologa vendita 2016).
«A wonderful sculpture», così l’auctioneer Andreas Rumbler ha definito la musa dormiente di Costantine Brancusi dopo aver battuto il martello a 51 milioni di dollari questa sera nelle sale del Rockefeller Center di New York. La scultura ha realizzato il nuovo record d’asta per l’artista. Il precedente era stato realizzato durante l’ormai leggendaria vendita dedicata alla collezine di Yves Saint Laurent & Pieere Bergé a Parigi nel febbraio del 2009, quando la scultura “Madame L.R” era stata aggiudicata a 37.435.599 $ (29.185.000 €).

Così la fanciulla addormantata, immortalata in una forma ovoidale in bronzo nel 1913 (ma derivate da una in marmo di qualche anno prima), ha sottratto i rifelttori dall’altra star della serata, la musa di Pablo Picasso, Dora Maar. Il suo ritratto del 1939 è stato aggiudicato a 45,047,500 ed era stimato tra i 35 e i 50 milioni. Terzo posto in calssifica ancora per il maestro cubista: Femme assise dans un fauteuil, realizzato tra il 1917 e il 1920, è stato venduto per 30,487,500 $.
Non hanno fatto le scintille che ci si poteva aspettare le opere provenienti dalla collezione della diva di Hollywood Greta Garbo. La ragazza con le trecce di Jan Alexej von Jawlensky ha superato di poco la stima più alta con 1,807,500 $ e la “Femme à l’ombrelle ou La Parisienne” di Robert Delaunay è passata di mano per 3,607,500, mentre Chaim Soutine è rimasto invenduto, solo uno di una nutrita serie. Sui 56 lotti in catalogo, ben 11 sono rimasti al palo e uno è stato ritirato prima dell’asta.
Molto bene per “Le Guéridon” di Georges Braque che, rilancio dopo rilancio, da 4 milioni è salito a 10,103,500. Record sfiorato per Marc Chagall. “Les trois cierges” del 1939 è stato battuto a 14,583,500, a un soffio dai 14.850.000 $ di “Anniversaire”, che continua a essere l’attuale top price dell’artista, ormai dal 1990.
8,647,500 per “La Côte Saint-Denis à Pontoise” di Paul Cézanne del 1877. Il verde ed estivo paesaggio era stimata $ 5-7 milioni ed era parte delle collezione di di Hunt Henderson. Proveniva dalla raccolta dell’imprenditore e collezionsita anche l’invernale e innevato paesaggio di Claude Monet venduto per 11,447,500 $
Pablo Picasso (1881-1973)
Femme couchée
oil on canvas 7 5/8 x 13 ½ in. (19.2 x 35 cm.)
ESTIMATE $1,200,000 – $1,800,000 This lot has been withdrawn from the sale
Francis Picabia (1879-1953)
Xanthe
oil on canvas 36 ½ x 27 7/8 in. (92.7 x 73.3 cm.)
ESTIMATE $700,000 – $1,000,000
PRICE REALIZED USD 907,500
Henry Moore (1898-1986)
Rocking Chair No. 1
bronze with brown patina Height: 12 ½ in. (31.8 cm.)
ESTIMATE $800,000 – $1,200,000
PRICE REALIZED USD 2,167,500
László Moholy-Nagy (1895-1946)
CH 14B Variation of a Rh Picture
oil on canvas 30 1/8 x 38 in. (76.5 x 96.5 cm.)
ESTIMATE $1,500,000 – $2,500,000
UNSOLD
Georges Braque (1882-1963)
Le Guéridon
oil on canvas 16 1/8 x 12 7/8 in. (41 x 32.9 cm.)
ESTIMATE $4,000,000 – $6,000,000
PRICE REALIZED USD 10,103,500
Marc Chagall (1887-1985)
Les trois cierges
oil on canvas 51 ¼ x 38 ¼ in. (130.2 x 97.1 cm.)
ESTIMATE $8,000,000 – $12,000,000
PRICE REALIZED USD 14,583,500
Pablo Picasso (1881-1973)
Femme assise dans un fauteuil
oil on canvas 51 ¼ x 35 in. (130.2 x 88.9 cm.)
ESTIMATE $20,000,000 – $30,000,000
PRICE REALIZED USD 30,487,500
Alberto Giacometti (1901-1966)
Buste d’Annette VI
bronze with brown patina Height: 23 5/8 in. (59.5 cm.)
ESTIMATE $1,500,000 – $2,500,000
PRICE REALIZED USD 3,127,500
Max Ernst (1891-1976)
The Phases of the Night
oil on canvas 35 7/8 x 63 7/8 in. (91.3 x 162.4 cm.)
ESTIMATE $4,000,000 – $6,000,000
PRICE REALIZED USD 6,407,500
Marino Marini (1901-1980)
Piccolo cavaliere
bronze with brown and gray patina Height: 22 7/8 in. (58.2 cm.)
ESTIMATE $1,500,000 – $2,500,000
PRICE REALIZED USD 1,087,500
Marc Chagall (1887-1985)
Le buveur ou L’Absinthe ou Etude pour Le Saoul
gouache and pen and India ink on paper laid down on board18 x 22 5/8 in. (46 x 57.5 cm.)
ESTIMATE$700,000 – $1,000,000
PRICE REALIZED USD 1,327,500
Pablo Picasso (1881-1973)
Femme assise, robe bleue
oil on canvas 28 ¾ x 23 5/8 in. (73 x 60 cm.)
ESTIMATE $35,000,000 – $50,000,000
PRICE REALIZED USD 45,047,500
Henry Moore (1898-1986)
Working Model for Reclining Figure: Prop
bronze with green and brown patina Length: 31 ½ in. (80 cm.)
ESTIMATE $1,500,000 – $2,500,000
PRICE REALIZED USD 2,887,500
Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919)
La tasse de thé ou Le jardin
oil on canvas 31 7/8 x 25 5/8 in. (80.1 x 65.1 cm.)
ESTIMATE $3,000,000 – $5,000,000
PRICE REALIZED USD 4,279,500
Aristide Maillol (1861-1944)
La Nymphe aux fleurs
bronze with green and brown patina Height: 62 ¼ in. (158.2 cm.)
ESTIMATE $800,000 – $1,200,000
UNSOLD
Claude Monet (1840-1926)
La berge du Petit-Gennevilliers, soleil couchant
oil on canvas 21 1/8 x 29 5/8 in. (55 x 73.9 cm.)
ESTIMATE $3,000,000 – $5,000,000
PRICE REALIZED USD 2,767,500
Alexander Archipenko (1887-1964)
Hollywood Torso
polished terracotta Height: 52 ½ in. (133.4 cm.)
ESTIMATE $500,000 – $700,000
PRICE REALIZED USD 1,147,500
Fernand Léger (1881-1955)
Nature morte aux éléments mécaniques
oil on canvas 27 5/8 x 19 ¾ in. (70.1 x 50.2 cm.)
ESTIMATE $10,000,000 – $15,000,000
PRICE REALIZED USD 11,447,500
Paul Cézanne (1839-1906)
La côte Saint-Denis à Pontoise
oil on canvas 25 ¾ x 21 3/8 in. (65.4 x 54.2 cm.)
ESTIMATE $5,000,000 – $7,000,000
PRICE REALIZED USD 8,647,500
Claude Monet (1840-1926)
La route de Vétheuil, effet de neige
oil on canvas 24 1/8 x 32 1/8 in. (61.1 x 81.1 cm.)
ESTIMATE $10,000,000 – $15,000,000
PRICE REALIZED USD 11,447,500
Claude Monet (1840-1926)
Printemps à Giverny, effet d’après-midi
oil on canvas 23 ¾ x 32 1/8 in. (60.4 x 81.4 cm.)
ESTIMATE $4,000,000 – $6,000,000
PRICE REALIZED SD 4,167,500
Paul Gauguin (1848-1903)
Bretonne et oie au bord de l’eau
oil on canvas 9 7/8 x 15 ½ in. (25.1 x 39.4 cm.)
ESTIMATE $3,000,000 – $5,000,000
PRICE REALIZED
Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919)
Femme lisant
oil on canvas 16 5/8 x 13 ½ in. (42.4 x 34.3 cm.)
ESTIMATE $1,200,000 – $1,800,000
PRICE REALIZED USD 1,327,500
Edgar Degas (1834-1917)
Femme s’essuyant les pieds
pastel on joined paper laid down on board 21 5/8 x 24 3/8 in. (54.8 x 62 cm.)
ESTIMATE $1,200,000 – $1,600,000
PRICE REALIZED
Alexej von Jawlensky (1864-1941)
Das blasse Mädchen mit grauen Zopfen
oil over pencil on linen-finish paper laid down on masonite 25 x 19 ½ in. (63.5 x 49.5 cm.)
ESTIMATE $1,000,000 – $1,500,000
PRICE REALIZED USD 1,807,500 Price Realised is hammer price plus buyer’s premium, net of any applicable fees.
Chaim Soutine (1893-1943)
Femme à la poupée
oil on canvas 31 7/8 x 25 5/8 in. (80.8 x 65.1 cm.)
ESTIMATE $3,500,000 – $4,500,000
UNSOLD
Robert Delaunay (1885-1941)
Femme à l’ombrelle ou La Parisienne
oil on canvas 48 3/8 x 35 ½ in. (122.8 x 90.2 cm.)
ESTIMATE $3,500,000 – $6,000,000
PRICE REALIZED USD 3,607,500
Kees van Dongen (1877-1968)
La femme aux colonnes
oil on canvas 39 3/8 x 25 5/8 in. (100 x 65.1 cm.)
ESTIMATE $1,200,000 – $1,800,000
UNSOLD
Wassily Kandinsky (1866-1944)
Oben und links
oil on board 27 ½ x 19 5/8 in. (69.9 x 49.8 cm.)
ESTIMATE $5,000,000 – $7,000,000
PRICE REALIZED 8,311,500
Joan Miró (1893-1983)
Femmes et oiseaux dans la nuit
oil on canvas 32 3/8 x 13 ½ in. (82.2 x 34.4 cm.)
ESTIMATE $3,000,000 – $5,000,000
PRICE REALIZED USD 4,839,500
Pablo Picasso (1881-1973)
Femme dans un fauteuil
oil on canvas 39 3/8 x 31 7/8 in. (99.9 x 81 cm.)
ESTIMATE $5,000,000 – $7,000,000
PRICE REALIZED USD 6,407,500
Constantin Brancusi (1876-1957)
La muse endormie
patinated bronze with gold leaf Length: 10 ½ in. (26.7 cm.)
ESTIMATE $25,000,000 – $35,000,000
PRICE REALIZED $57,367,500
Constantin Brancusi (1876-1957)
Portrait de femme
gouache and brush and India ink over pencil on paper laid down on board 21 1/8 x 16 1/8 in. (53.8 x 40.8 cm.)
ESTIMATE $600,000 – $800,000
unsold
Fernand Léger (1881-1955)
Les pommes
oil on canvas 23 ¾ x 36 1/8 in. (60.3 x 91.8 cm.)
ESTIMATE $2,000,000 – $4,000,000
PRICE REALIZED USD 1,867,500
Ernst Ludwig Kirchner (1880-1938)
Segelboote im Sturm
oil on canvas 35 ½ x 47 ¼ in. (90.2 x 120 cm.)
ESTIMATE $4,000,000 – $6,000,000
PRICE REALIZED USD 4,391,500
Paul Klee (1879-1940)
Gesetz (Law)
gouache on newsprint laid down by the artist on thin card Sheet size: 19 1/8 x 12 7/8 in. (48.6 x 32.7 cm.) Mount size: 24 7/8 x 16 5/8 in. (63 x 42.3 cm.)
ESTIMATE $600,000 – $900,000
PRICE REALIZED USD 907,500
Claude Monet (1840-1926)
Route à Louveciennes, neige fondante, soleil couchant
oil on canvas 16 1/8 x 21 3/8 in. (41 x 54.2 cm.)
ESTIMATE $4,000,000 – $6,000,000
PRICE REALIZED USD 4,727,500
Camille Pissarro (1830-1903)
La route de Saint-Germain, Louveciennes
oil on canvas 18 3/8 x 21 ¾ in. (46.7 x 55.3 cm.)
ESTIMATE $1,500,000 – $2,500,000
UNSOLD
Paul Signac (1863-1935)
Le Musior (Port d’Antibes)
oil on canvas 23 5/8 x 28 ¾ in. (60 x 72.9 cm.)
ESTIMATE $2,500,000 – $3,500,000
PRICE REALIZED USD 3,943,500
Pablo Picasso (1881-1973)
Tête de femme (Dora Maar)
oil on paper 12 5/8 x 8 3/8 in. (32.1 x 21.4 cm.)
ESTIMATE $600,000 – $900,000
PRICE REALIZED USD 547,500
Henry Moore (1898-1986)
Large Four Piece Reclining Figure
bronze with brown patina Length: 157 ½ in. (400 cm.)
ESTIMATE $6,000,000 – $8,000,000
PRICE REALIZED USD 8,199,500
Pierre Bonnard (1867-1947)
Corbeille de fruits dans la salle à manger du cannet
oil on canvas 20 ¼ x 23 5/8 in. (51.3 x 60.1 cm.)
ESTIMATE $1,200,000 – $1,800,000
PRICE REALIZED
Henry Moore (1898-1986)
Upright Internal/External Form
bronze with green patina Height: 79 ¾ in. (202.6 cm.)
ESTIMATE $2,000,000 – $3,000,000
PRICE REALIZED USD 1,807,500
Edgar Degas (1834-1917)
Danseuse assise de profil
charcoal and pastel on joined paper laid down on board Image size: 18 1/8 x 16 5/8 in. (46.1 x 42.2 cm.) Sheet size: 20 ¾ x 20 ¼ in. (52.7 x 51.5 cm.)
ESTIMATE $800,000 – $1,200,000
UNSOLD
Auguste Rodin (1840-1917)
Eve, petit modèle (modèle à la base carrée et aux pieds plats)
bronze with dark green and black patina Height: 28 ¾ in. (73 cm.)
ESTIMATE $2,500,000 – $3,500,000
UNSOLD
Camille Pissarro (1830-1903)
Prairie de Bazincourt
oil on canvas 18 1/8 x 21 5/8 in. (46 x 55 cm.)
ESTIMATE $1,000,000 – $1,500,000
PRICE REALIZED USD 967,500
Edgar Degas (1834-1917)
Danseuse regardant la plante de son pied droit
bronze with brown patina Height: 18 1/8 in. (46.1 cm.)
ESTIMATE $400,000 – $600,000
PRICE REALIZED USD 583,500
Henri Matisse (1869-1954)
Etude pour Deux personnages féminins et le chien
charcoal and estompe on paper 22 3/8 x 15 1/8 in. (56.7 x 38.3 cm.)
ESTIMATE $400,000 – $600,000
PRICE REALIZED USD 391,500
Henry Moore (1898-1986)
Family Group bronze with dark brown patina Height: 5 ¾ in. (14.7 cm.)
ESTIMATE $400,000 – $600,000
PRICE REALIZED USD 667,500
Paul Klee (1879-1940)
Schicksal zweier Schwestern
oil and gouache on paper laid down by the artist on card Sheet size: 11 3/8 x 18 1/8 in. (29 x 45.9 cm.) Mount size: 12 3/8 x 18 ¼ in. (31.6 x 46.3 cm.)
ESTIMATE $600,000 – $900,000
UNSOLD
Mary Cassatt (1844-1926)
Susan Seated in a Garden
oil on canvas 25 5/8 x 19 7/8 in. (65.1 x 50.7 cm.)
ESTIMATE $1,000,000 – $1,500,000
UNSOLD
Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919)
Femme relevant sa jupe, La Parisienne
oil on canvas 27 ¼ x 9 1/8 in. (69.2 x 23 cm.)
ESTIMATE $700,000 – $1,000,000
UNSOLD
Camille Pissarro (1830-1903)
Statue d’Henri IV, matin, soleil (2e série)
oil on canvas 29 x 36 3/8 in. (73.6 x 92.3 cm.)
ESTIMATE $3,000,000 – $4,000,000
PRICE REALIZED USD 3,487,500
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (1864-1901)
L’Enfant au chien, fils de Madame Marthe et la chienne Pamela-Taussat
oil on canvas 51 ¼ x 28 in. (127.6 x 71.1 cm.)
ESTIMATE $1,500,000 – $2,500,000
PRICE REALIZED USD 1,207,500
Edgar Degas (1834-1917)
Chevaux et jockeys
oil, charcoal and brush and India ink on panel 12 ½ x 16 1/8 in. (31.8 x 41 cm.)
ESTIMATE $1,000,000 – $2,000,000
UNSOLD
Marc Chagall (1887-1985)
Le petit cirque bleu
oil on canvas 25 5/8 x 19 5/8 in. (65 x 50 cm.)
ESTIMATE $1,000,000 – $1,500,000
PRICE REALIZED USD 1,207,500