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Leonardo venduto a 450 milioni di dollari. La battaglia del secolo per l’ultimo da Vinci si è conclusa dopo una gara sostenuta durata 18 minuti. Il Salvator Mundi è l’opera più cara in assoluto venduta in asta e in trattativa privata (a quanto si sa). Il Cristo con il globo del genio del Rinascimento ha superato di gran lunga i $179.4 milioni di dollari delle “Les Femmes D’Alger (Version ‘O’)” del maestro del Cubismo che dal 2015 detenevano il record di opera più costosa venduta in asta. Seguiva Picasso con $170.4 milioni il “Nu couché” di Amedeo Modigliani. Ma Leonardo ha superato anche i prezzi (non ufficialmente confermati) delle opere più care vendute in trattativa privata, i giocatori di carte di Paul Cézanne e “Nafea Faa Ipoipo (When Will You Marry)?” di Paul Gauguin che sembra siano stati venduti alla famiglia reale del Qatar per rispettivamente 250 e 300 milioni di dollari (o forse quest’ultimo a 240 milioni).
Il bid vincente è arrivato al telefono con Alex Rotter e non da una speciale “paletta rossa”, riservate ai bidder in sala interessati al Leonardo. Rotter – presidente del dipartimento arte contemporanea e del dopoguerra di Christie’s Americas da marzo 2017, dopo 16 anni da Sotheby’s- ha fatto da tramite per la vendita di questo “Sacro Graal”, come l’aveva definito Loic Gouzer prima dell’asta.
Il dipinto di Leonardo era ritenuto perduto. Nel 2011 era stato autenticato da alcuni tra i suoi maggiori studiosi in occasione della mostra che si era svolta quell’anno alla National Gallery di Londra intitolata “Leonardo da Vinci: Painter at the Court of Milan”.
Raffigura Cristo con una mano benedicente e l’altra che tiene un globo. È un dipinto ad olio su tavola di legno di 65,5 x 45 cm. Leonardo dovrebbe averlo dipinto a Milano nel 1499. L’opera era già passata in asta –ma non come un Leonardo- nel 1958 per 45 sterline. Leggi qui un approfondimento sul dipinto.
Veniamo agli altri lotti di questa ricchissima Evening Sale che ha fruttato a Christie’s $785,942,250, anche se dopo questa aggiudicazione straordinaria, tutti le altre sono sembrate meno significative. Ma in realtà non così. Al Leonardo è stato idealmente accostato il grande dipinto “Sixty Last Suppers” di Andy Warhol, che era stimato 50 milioni di dollari ed è stato battuto a 60,875,000$. Eseguito nel 1986, l’anno prima della morte del re della Pop Art, è uno dei più grandi dipinti dell’artista mai giunti in asta (294.6 x 998.2 cm). Il record di Warhol di 105.445.000 $ (“Silver Car Crash (Double Disaster)” del 1963, Sotheby’s, 2013) non è stato superato, ma è stato triplicato il prezzo della più costosa “Last Supper” venduta in asta (da Christie’s lo scorso maggio a 18.727.500 $).
Si è classificato terzo l’“Untitled” del 2005 di Cy Twombly venduto a 46,437,500$. È il più grande dipinto della serie di “Bacco” -il dio romano del vino, dell’ebrezza, della follia e dell’estasi religiosa -realizzata tra il 2003 e il 2008. Molti ritengono che questa serie sia ispirata all’invasione statunitense dell’Iraq del 2003.
Oltre a quello per Leonardo sono stati 8 i nuovi record d’asta realizzati questa sera, come la tripletta dei primi tre lotti del catalogo. Il giovanissimo Adam Pendleton (1984) con “Black Dada” ha più che triplicato la stima più alta con 225,000 dollari. E subito dopo l’acquario volante di Philippe Parreno, “My Room is Another Fish Bowl”, ha raggiunto i 516,500 $. Gara di diversi minuti per Kerry James Marshall che con i $5,037,500 di “Still Life with Wedding Portrait” ha infranto il top price precendente.
Nuovi world record anche per Vija Celmins (Lead Sea #2, $4,212,500), Lee Krasner (Shattered Light, 1954, $5,487,500), Hans Hofmann (Lava, $8,862,500), William Baziotes (Phantasm, $1,332,500) e Julian Schnabel (Ethnic Type #14, $1,452,500).
Per la cronaca, tra questa sera e le tre vendite di arte impressionista e moderna di lunedì 13 e martedì 14 (Evening + day + works on paper) Christie’s ha raccolto 1.317.309.000 dollari. E la settimana non si è conclusa!
Post-War & Contemporary Art Evening Sale
15 November 2017, New York
Adam Pendleton (B. 1984)
Black Dada (K)
gesso and silkscreen ink on canvas, in two parts overall: 96 x 76 in. (243.8 x 193 cm.) (2)
ESTIMATE $40,000 – $60,000
PRICE REALIZED 225,000
Philippe Parreno (B. 1964) My Room is Another Fish Bowl Mylar and helium
bar fish: 37 x 24 1/2 inches (94 x 62.2 cm) tropical fish 1: 26 3/4 x 29 inches (67.9 x 73.7 cm) tropical fish 2: 26 3/4 x 29 inches (67.9 x 73.7 cm) fantasy fish: 37 7/8 x 37 3/4 inches (96.2 x 95.9 cm) tuna/shark fish: 27 1/8 x 40 1/2 inches (68.9 x 102.9 cm) overall dimensions variable—the number of fish in each installation is site-specific
ESTIMATE $250,000 – $350,000
PRICE REALIZED 516,500
Kerry James Marshall (B. 1955)
Still Life with Wedding Portrait
acrylic on PVC panel 59 1/2 x 47 1/2 in. (151.1 x 120.6 cm.)
ESTIMATE $1,000,000 – $1,500,000
PRICE REALIZED 5,037,500
Frank Stella (B. 1936)
Cipango (Small Version)
alkyd on canvas 23 3/8 x 23 3/8 in. (59.4 x 59.4 cm.)
ESTIMATE $2,200,000 – $2,800,000
PRICE REALIZED 3,852,500
Eva Hesse (1936-1970)
No title
graphite and ink wash on paper 11 3/4 x 9 in. (29.8 x 22.8 cm.)
ESTIMATE $800,000 – $1,200,000
PRICE REALIZED 1,092,500
Mark Rothko (1903-1970)
Saffron
oil on canvas 69 1/2 x 53 3/4 in. (175.6 x 136.5 cm.)
ESTIMATE $25,000,000 – $35,000,000
PRICE REALIZED 32,375,000
Louise Bourgeois (1911-2010)
Spider II
bronze 73 x 73 x 22 1/2 in. (185.4 x 185.4 x 57.2 cm.)
ESTIMATE $10,000,000 – $15,000,000
PRICE REALIZED 11,562,500
Vija Celmins (B. 1938)
Lead Sea #2
graphite on paper 14 1/2 x 19 3/4 in. (36.8 x 50.1 cm.)
ESTIMATE $1,500,000 – $2,500,000
PRICE REALIZED 4,212,500
Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
Salvator Mundi
oil on panel 25 7/8 x 18 in. (65.7 x 45.7 cm.)
ESTIMATE Estimate on request
PRICE REALIZED 450,312,500
Jean-Michel Basquiat (1960-1988)
Il Duce
acrylic, oilstick and spray paint on canvas 60 x 60 in. (152.4 x 152.4 cm.)
ESTIMATE $25,000,000 – $35,000,000
UNSOLD
Keith Haring (1958-1990)
Untitled
vinyl paint on vinyl tarpaulin with metal grommets 120 x 120 in. (304.8 x 304.8 cm.)
ESTIMATE $3,500,000 – $4,500,000
PRICE REALIZED 4,212,500
John Currin (B. 1962)
Gold Nude
oil on canvas 28 x 22 in. (71.2 x 56 cm.)
ESTIMATE $6,000,000 – $8,000,000
UNSOLD
Andy Warhol (1928-1987)
Sixty Last Suppers
acrylic and silkscreen ink on canvas 116 x 393 in. (294.6 x 998.2 cm.)
ESTIMATE Estimate on request
PRICE REALIZED 63,312,500
Agnes Martin (1912-2004)
Untitled
acrylic and graphite on canvas 60 x 60 in. (154.2 x 154.2 cm.)
ESTIMATE $4,000,000 – $6,000,000
PRICE REALIZED 4,692,500
Cy Twombly (1928-2011)
Untitled
acrylic on canvas 128 x 194 1/2 in. (325.1 x 494 cm.)
ESTIMATE Estimate on request
PRICE REALIZED 46,437,500
Philip Guston (1913-1980)
Summer Kitchen Still Life
oil on canvas 32 1/8 x 36 in. (82 x 91.4 cm.)
ESTIMATE $5,000,000 – $7,000,000
PRICE REALIZED 6,612,500
Cy Twombly (1928-2011)
Sunset
oil based house paint, wax crayon, colored pencil and lead pencil on canvas 55 3/4 x 70 7/8 in. (141.6 x 180 cm.)
ESTIMATE Estimate on request
PRICE REALIZED 27,312,500
Lee Krasner (1908-1984)
Shattered Light
oil and paper collage on Masonite 34 x 48 in. (86.4 x 121.9 cm.)
ESTIMATE $1,800,000 – $2,500,000
PRICE REALIZED 5,487,500
Louise Nevelson (1899-1988)
Floating Cloud Zag II
painted wood 41 3/4 x 50 5/8 x 7 ¾ in. (106 x 128.5 x 19.6 cm.)
ESTIMATE $350,000 – $450,000
PRICE REALIZED 756,500
Hans Hofmann (1880-1966)
Lava
oil on canvas 72 x 60 in. (182.8 x 152.4 cm.)
ESTIMATE $4,000,000 – $6,000,000
PRICE REALIZED 8,862,500
Franz Kline (1910-1962)
Light Mechanic
oil on canvas 92 x 67 5/8 in. (233.6 x 171.7 cm.)
ESTIMATE Estimate on request
PRICE REALIZED 20,562,500
Alexander Calder (1898-1976)
Two-Toned Moon
standing mobile—sheet metal, wire and paint 33 x 43 x 33 in. (83.8 x 109.2 x 83.8 cm.)
ESTIMATE $1,000,000 – $1,500,000
PRICE REALIZED 2,412,500
William Baziotes (1912-1963)
Phantasm
oil and graphite on canvas 60 x 72 1/2 in. (152.4 x 184.1 cm.)
ESTIMATE $800,000 – $1,200,000
PRICE REALIZED 1,332,500
Jackson Pollock (1912-1956)
Number 24, 1951
oil on canvas laid down on Masonite 24 3/8 x 31 3/8 in. (61.9 x 79.7 cm.)
ESTIMATE $3,500,000 – $4,500,000
UNSOLD
Robert Motherwell (1915-1991)
Je t’aime No. III with Loaf of Bread
oil and charcoal on canvas 72 x 54 in. (182.8 x 137.1 cm.)
ESTIMATE $1,200,000 – $1,800,000
PRICE REALIZED 2,652,500
Alexander Calder (1898-1976)
Calderoulette
standing mobile—brass, wire and thread 20 ¾ x 28 x 17 in. (52.7 x 71.1 x 43 cm.)
ESTIMATE $3,200,000 – $3,800,000
PRICE REALIZED 2,892,500
Arshile Gorky (1904-1948)
Composition I
ink, wax crayon and graphite on paper 19 x 24 7/8 in. (48.2 x 63.1 cm.)
ESTIMATE $2,000,000 – $3,000,000
PRICE REALIZED 2,652,500
Milton Avery (1885-1965)
Pale Field, Dark Mountain
oil on canvas 39 3/4 x 54 1/8 in. (101 x 137.4 cm.)
ESTIMATE $1,200,000 – $1,800,000
PRICE REALIZED 1,572,500
Willem de Kooning (1904-1997)
Composition I
oil on paper laid down on board 23 x 22 3/4 in. (58.4 x 57.7 cm.)
ESTIMATE $4,000,000 – $6,000,000
PRICE REALIZED 5,712,500
Adolph Gottlieb (1903-1974)
Brown Splash
oil on canvas 90 x 72 in. (228.6 x 182.8 cm.)
ESTIMATE $1,400,000 – $1,800,000
PRICE REALIZED 2,532,500
Isamu Noguchi (1904-1988)
Old Erosion
basalt with wooden base basalt: 15 1/2 x 29 1/8 x 13 3/4 in. (38.7 x 74 x 34.9 cm.) base: 34 x 16 x 16 in. (86.3 x 40.6 x 40.6 cm.)
ESTIMATE $800,000 – $1,200,000
PRICE REALIZED 972,500
David Smith (1906-1965)
Voltron XXIV
steel 98 5/8 x 33 x 13 in. (230.1 x 83.8 x 33 cm.)
ESTIMATE $5,000,000 – $7,000,000
PRICE REALIZED 5,375,000
Ellsworth Kelly (1923-2015)
Diagonal with Curve VII
oil on shaped canvas 107 1/2 x 52 in. (273.1 x 132 cm.)
ESTIMATE $1,500,000 – $2,500,000
PRICE REALIZED 1,812,500
Alexander Calder (1898-1976)
Seven Black, Red and Blue
oil on canvas 48 1/8 x 60 1/4 in. (122.2 x 153 cm.)
ESTIMATE $900,000 – $1,200,000
PRICE REALIZED 3,372,500
Hans Hofmann (1880-1966)
Enigma
oil on canvas 36 1/2 x 84 in. (92.7 x 213.3 cm.)
ESTIMATE $3,000,000 – $5,000,000
PRICE REALIZED 2,412,500
Mark Rothko (1903-1970)
Untitled
oil on paper laid down on canvas 52 3/4 x 40 1/2 in. (133.9 x 103 cm.)
ESTIMATE $10,000,000 – $15,000,000
PRICE REALIZED 11,000,000
Barnett Newman (1905-1970)
Untitled
oil on canvas 36 1/8 x 24 1/4 in. (91.8 x 61.6 cm.)
ESTIMATE $2,500,000 – $3,500,000
PRICE REALIZED 4,092,500
Richard Diebenkorn (1922-1993)
Untitled
acrylic, crayon and pasted paper on paper 25 x 38 in. (63.5 x 96.5 cm.)
ESTIMATE $1,500,000 – $2,000,000
PRICE REALIZED 2,532,500
Alexander Calder (1898-1976)
Untitled
hanging mobile—sheet metal, wire and paint 41 x 61 x 30 in. (104.1 x 154.9 x 76.2 cm.)
ESTIMATE $1,800,000 – $2,500,000
PRICE REALIZED 3,372,500
Peter Doig (B. 1959)
Almost Grown oil on canvas 80 3/4 x 116 1/4 in. (205 x 295.4 cm.)
ESTIMATE $10,000,000 – $15,000,000
PRICE REALIZED USD 10,437,500
Julian Schnabel (B. 1951)
Ethnic Type #14
oil and cow hide on velvet 108 x 120 in. (274.3 x 304.8 cm.)
ESTIMATE $500,000 – $700,000
PRICE REALIZED 1,452,500
Jean Dubuffet (1901-1985)
Vieille Reine et Courtisan
oil on canvas 45 3/4 x 34 1/2 in. (116.2 x 88.9 cm.)
ESTIMATE $2,500,000 – $3,500,000
UNSOLD
Jean Dubuffet (1901-1985)
Tétonette
sponge and stone 26 1/4 x 11 x 8 3/4 in. (66.6 x 27.9 x 22.2 cm.)
ESTIMATE $1,200,000 – $1,800,000
PRICE REALIZED 1,332,500
Brice Marden (B. 1938)
Summer Painting
oil and wax on canvas, in two parts overall: 69 x 45 in. (175.2 x 114.3 cm.)
ESTIMATE $6,000,000 – $8,000,000
UNSOLD
Mark Grotjahn (B. 1968)
Untitled (Black Butterfly Grey)
oil on linen 53 1/8 x 42 in. (134.9 x 106.6 cm.)
ESTIMATE $1,800,000 – $2,500,000
PRICE REALIZED 1,332,500
David Hammons (B. 1943)
Untitled (Basketball Drawing)
graphite and dirt on paper in wooden frame, with suitcase framed drawing: 117 x 49 in. (297.1 x 124.4 cm.) suitcase: 13 3/8 x 18 x 6 1/2 in. (34 x 45.7 x 16.5 cm.)
ESTIMATE $1,000,000 – $1,500,000
PRICE REALIZED 1,272,500
Jeff Koons (B. 1955)
Vase of Flowers
mirror 72 1/2 x 53 x 1 in. (184.2 x 134.6 x 2.5 cm.)
ESTIMATE $1,500,000 – $2,500,000
PRICE REALIZED 1,692,500
Lee Bontecou (B. 1931)
Untitled
Estimate USD 400,000 – USD 600,000 BR>Price realised USD 708,500
Richard Serra (B. 1939)
Carver
paintstick on handmade paper 78 1/2 x 78 1/2 in. (200 x 200 cm)
ESTIMATE $800,000 – $1,200,000
PRICE REALIZED 2,172,500
Christopher Wool (B. 1955)
Untitled
enamel on canvas 78 x 60 in. (198.2 x 152.5 cm.)
ESTIMATE $1,200,000 – $1,800,000
UNSOLD
Felix Gonzalez-Torres (1957-1996)
Untitled (Last Light)
light bulbs, plastic light sockets, extension cord and dimmer switch overall dimensions vary with installation
ESTIMATE $700,000 – $900,000
PRICE REALIZED 1,104,500
Yves Klein (1928-1962)
Monogold, l’âge d’or, (MG 48)
gold leaf on wood panel 12 3/4 x 9 in. (32.5 x 23 cm.)
ESTIMATE $1,200,000 – $1,800,000
PRICE REALIZED 2,892,500
Edward Ruscha (b. 1937)
Dixie Red Seville
oil on canvas 64 x 64 in. (162.6 x 162.6 cm.)
ESTIMATE $3,000,000 – $5,000,000
UNSOLD
Edward Ruscha (B. 1937)
Amphetamines, Marble
oil on canvas 20 x 24 in. (50.8 x 61 cm.)
ESTIMATE $1,000,000 – $1,500,000
PRICE REALIZED 1,332,500
Carl Andre (B. 1935)
8 Shoeing Smith, Australia
galvanized steel, in eight parts each: 1/16 x 96 x 48 in. (0.1 x 243.8 x 121.9 cm.) overall: 1/16 x 96 x 384 in. (0.1 x 243.8 x 975.3 cm.) (8)
ESTIMATE $1,000,000 – $1,500,000
UNSOLD
Roy Lichtenstein (1923-1997)
Entablature #6
oil and Magna on canvas 26 x 144 1/4 in. (66 x 366.4 cm.)
ESTIMATE $1,500,000 – $2,500,000
UNSOLD
Alexander Calder (1898-1976)
Slender Legs
standing mobile—sheet metal, rod and paint 136 x 154 x 75 in. (345.4 x 391.1 x 190.5 cm.)
ESTIMATE $3,000,000 – $5,000,000
PRICE REALIZED 4,092,500
Isamu Noguchi (1904-1988)
Olmec & Muse
basalt with granite base basalt: 53 1/2 x 47 1/4 x 19 1/2 in. (135.9 x 120 x 49.5 cm.) granite base: 4 1/2 x 47 x 19 1/4 in. (11.4 x 119.3 x 48.9 cm.)
ESTIMATE $600,000 – $800,000
PRICE REALIZED 4,981,250