06.03.2018, Londra – 137,459,750 sterline per la Evening Sale, in crescita sul marzo 2017, quando Christie’s aveva incassato 96,384,000 £. Quattro opere per sono state vendute oltre 10 milioni di sterline, sette oltre i 5 e ventitre oltre 1 milione. Solo cinque invenduti (su 65 lotti). Tre i nuovi record realizzati: per Mark Bradford (£3,833,750); Kelley Walker (£ 572,750) e Maria Helena Vieira da Silva (£2,048,750).
Top price per il “Six Self Portraits” di Andy Warhol aggiudicato a 22,621,250 £. Era proposto con stima a richiesta ma si aggirava sui 16-22 milioni £. Warhol l’aveva realizzato solo un anno prima di morire. Ognuno dei se autoritratti misura 56 x 56cm.
Secondo posto per “Multiflavors” di Jean-Michel Basquiat battuto a 12,046,250 £ e realizzato nell’anno magico del Picasso nero, il 1982 (gli ultimi record d’asta sono di opere di quell’anno).
Terzo classificato Francis Bacon con “Three Studies for a Portrait”. Il soggetto del trittico è Henrietta Morae, ritratta molte altre volte e resa “alla maniera di Picasso”. Dimenticato dunque il recente clamoroso invenduto per un dipinto di Bacon passato in asta a Londra lo scorso ottobre (che era stimato ben 60 milioni £), il trittico in asta questa sera non ha deluso le aspettative con una battuta di i 10,008,750, che però non si è discostata molto dalla stima più bassa.
Quarto posto per il piccolo Jackson Pollock del 1950, un importante esempio di ‘drip painting’ quadrato che era stato esposto nella terza mostra personale di Pollock alla Betty Parsons Gallery, a New York, nel novembre del 1950 dove erano presenti alcuni dei suoi capolavori su larga scala, molti dipinti in quell’anno e che ora si trovano in importanti musei. Quando era stato annunciato su Instagram da Francis Outred (capo dipartimento di arte contemporanea e del dopoguerra di Londra) lui stesso aveva ammesso che la scelta della City come piazza e non New York, dove il mercato di Pollock solitamente è saldo, avrebbe potuto sembrare insolita. L’esperto scriveva: «Non capita spesso di dare il benvenuto a “Jack the Dripper” a Londra. […] Questo è probabilmente il terzo lavoro significativo di Jackson che ho avuto modo di vendere a Londra in vent’anni, ma è sicuramente il migliore». “Number 21” è stato venduto a 9,346,250 £, poco al di sotto della stima più bassa. Chissà se la Grande Mela avrebbe permesso qualcosa di più…
L’arte italiana da sola ha fatto incassare alla maison 21,9 milioni di sterline. Il Fontana, il Burri e il Boetti in catalogo stasera potevano rientrare in una classica Italian Sale londinese. Ma, visto il calo delle ultime edizioni, questo forse è stato il catalogo giusto, a sostegno dell’idea che le Italian Sale abbiano svolto appieno il loro compito, ovvero promuovere e lanciare l’arte italiana sul palcoscenico internazionale. I 24 tagli di Lucio Fontana, “Concetto Spaziale, Attese” del 1965, erano stimati £ 8.000.000-12.000.000. Il prezzo finale non si è discostato molto, fermandosi a 8,671,250 sterline. Cifra che lo fa posizionare al nono posto (in £) tra le opere più care del maestro dello spazialismo vendute all’asta (e al terzo posto tra i tagli). Si tratta di una lunga tela bianca (ben due metri) alla quale Fontana, per aggiungere un’ulteriore dimensione, ha aggiunto un telaio nero laccato. Ha fatto parte per oltre 30 anni della collezione della nota mercante d’arte Carla Panicali. Quando fu acquistato dal venditore nel 1998 aveva realizzato il nuovo record d’asta per dei tagli dell’artista. Sul retro è possibile leggere la dedica: “Ieri Tro-tro Klein mi ha fatto visita”. Tro-tro è Rotraut Klein, la sorella di Günther Uecker e vedova di Yves Klein. Di Fontana bene anche il teatrino bianco battuto a 464,750 £ (st. 200/300 mila). “Ferro T” di Alberto Burri è stato venduto per 5,858,750 sterline. Fa parte di una serie di 12 formati dall’assemblaggio di lamine di ferro diversamente lavorate e risale al 1959. Come il pezzo di Fontana, anche questo lavoro è di grandi dimensioni. Misura 150.3 x 140 cm ed era stimato £3,000,000-5,000,000. Ha superato le stime anche la mappa di Alighiero Boetti (1,448,750) e l’Untitled astratto di Rudolf Stingel (1,748,750 £), mentre ha rispettato le attese la “Mucca pazza” di Carol Rama (£ 175,000).
Tra le altre aggiudicazioni di rilievo si segnala Peter Doig presente in asta con due opere, i cui ricavi andranno alla Donald R. Sobey Foundation. Se il primo lavoro di Doig è stato aggiudicato in batter d’occhio, per il secondo, “Charley’s Space”, ci sono voluti diversi minuti per arrivare al colpo di martello finale di 9.500.000 £ che con i diritti sono diventati 10,921,250. Si tratta del primo dei dipinti di “neve” diventati poi molto famosi che Doig ha realizzato negli anni Novanta.
Adrian Ghenie, star delle aste londinesi passate, stasera ha rischiato di finire nella lista degli unsold. L’assta per qeusto lotto è stata riaperta dopo il lotto 42, e così “Study for “The Kaiser Wilhelm Institute” è stato venduto per 488,750 £.
CHRISTIE’S POSTWAR AND CONTEMPORARY ART
London, 06/03/2018
Robert Mapplethorpe (1946-1989)
Self-Portrait
gelatin silver print, flush-mounted on board image: 14 x 14in. (35.5 x 35.5cm.) sheet: 19 5/8 x 17 7/8in. (49.8 x 40.2cm.)
ESTIMATE £80,000 – £120,000 ($110,080 – $165,120)
PRICE REALIZED GBP 87,500
Robert Mapplethorpe (1946-1989)
Self-Portrait
platinum-palladium print image: 19 3/8 x 19 5/8in. (49.2 x 49.8cm.) sheet: 26 x 22in. (66 x 55.8cm.)
ESTIMATE £100,000 – £150,000 ($137,600 – $206,400)
PRICE REALIZED GBP 137,500
Robert Mapplethorpe (1946-1989)
Self-Portrait
gelatin silver print, flush-mounted on board image: 14 x 14in. (35.5 x 35.5cm.) sheet: 19 7/8 x 15 7/8in. (50.4 x 40.3cm.)
ESTIMATE £60,000 – £80,000 ($82,560 – $110,080)
PRICE REALIZED GBP 81,250
Robert Mapplethorpe (1946-1989)
Self-Portrait
gelatin silver print, flush-mounted on board image: 15 1/8 x 15 ¼in. (38.7 x 38.7cm.) sheet: 19 ¾ x 16in. (50.1 x 40.6cm.)
ESTIMATE £40,000 – £60,000 ($55,040 – $82,560)
PRICE REALIZED GBP 100,000
FRANÇOIS-XAVIER LALANNE (1927-2008)
Grand Mouflon de Pauline
patinated bronze, leather, wood and brass, with red-painted interior 52 x 48 x 18 ½in. (132 x 122 x 47cm.)
ESTIMATE £400,000 – £600,000 ($550,399 – $825,599)
PRICE REALIZED GBP 1,448,750
George Condo (b. 1957)
Three Nudes
ink and gesso on two joined sheets of paper 82 1/8 x 56 ½in. (208.5 x 143.5cm.)
ESTIMATE £300,000 – £500,000 ($412,799 – $687,999)
PRICE REALIZED GBP 488,750
Cy Twombly (1928-2011)
On Returning from Tonnicoda
oil paint, wax crayon and pencil on paper 27 ½ x 39 3/8in. (70 x 100cm.)
ESTIMATE £700,000 – £1,000,000 ($963,199 – $1,375,999)
PRICE REALIZED GBP 1,328,750
Jean-Michel Basquiat (1960-1988)
Multiflavors
acrylic and oilstick on canvas with tied wood supports 60 ½ x 61in. (153.7 x 154.5cm.)
ESTIMATE £10,000,000 – £15,000,000 ($13,759,999 – $20,639,999)
PRICE REALIZED GBP 12,046,250
Andy Warhol (1928-1987)
Six Self Portraits
acrylic and silkscreen ink on canvas, in six parts each: 22 x 22in. (56 x 56cm.)
ESTIMATE Estimate on request
PRICE REALIZED GBP 22,621,250
David Salle (b. 1952)
Old Bottles
oil and acrylic on canvas overall: 96 1/8 x 128 1/8in. (244 x 325.5cm.)
ESTIMATE £250,000 – £350,000 ($343,999 – $481,599)
PRICE REALIZED GBP 356,750
Cecily Brown (b. 1969)
The Homecoming
oil on linen 77 1/8 x 97in. (196 x 246.5cm.)
ESTIMATE £800,000 – £1,200,000 ($1,100,799 – $1,651,199)
PRICE REALIZED GBP 1,568,750
Louise Bourgeois (1911-2010)
Spider III
steel 19 x 35 x 37½in. (48.3 x 88.9 x 95.3cm.)
ESTIMATE £4,000,000 – £6,000,000 ($5,503,999 – $8,255,999)
PRICE REALIZED GBP 4,733,750
Wade Guyton (b. 1972)
Untitled
Epson UltraChrome inkjet on linen 40 1/8 x 36in. (102 x 91.5cm.)
ESTIMATE £350,000 – £450,000 ($481,599 – $619,199)
PRICE REALIZED GBP 512,750
Lucio Fontana (1899-1968)
Concetto spaziale, Teatrino
waterpaint on canvas and lacquered wood 51 1/8 x 51 1/8in. (130 x 130cm.)
ESTIMATE £200,000 – £300,000 ($275,199 – $412,799)
PRICE REALIZED GBP 464,750
Donald Judd (1928-1994)
Untitled
painted aluminium 11 ¾ x 94 ½ x 11 ¾in. (30 x 240 x 30cm.)
ESTIMATE £350,000 – £450,000 ($481,599 – $619,199)
PRICE REALIZED GBP 1,328,750
Cy Twombly (1928-2011)
Untitled
pencil and coloured pencil on paper 29 3/8 x 41 7/8in. (74.5 x 106.4cm.)
ESTIMATE £350,000 – £450,000 ($481,599 – $619,199)
PRICE REALIZED GBP 584,750
Lucio Fontana (1899-1968)
Concetto spaziale, Attese
waterpaint on canvas with lacquered wood frame 26 ¾ x 79 ¾ x 2 1/8in. (68 x 202.5 x 5.5cm.)
ESTIMATE £8,000,000 – £12,000,000 ($11,007,999 – $16,511,999)
PRICE REALIZED GBP 8,671,250
DAN FLAVIN (1933-1996)
untitled (monument for V. Tatlin)
cool white fluorescent light 95 7/8 x 32 ¼ x 4 5/8in. (243.5 x 82 x 11.8cm.)
ESTIMATE £250,000 – £350,000 ($343,999 – $481,599)
PRICE REALIZED GBP 752,750
Alberto Burri (1915-1995)
Ferro T
welded iron on wood 59 1/8 x 55 1/8in. (150.3 x 140cm.)
ESTIMATE £3,000,000 – £5,000,000 ($4,127,999 – $6,879,999)
PRICE REALIZED GBP 5,858,750
THOMAS SCHÜTTE (B. 1954)
Bronzefrau Nr. 7 patinated bronze figure on steel table 51 1/8 x 98 ½ x 49 ¼in. (130 x 250.2 x 125.1cm.)
ESTIMATE £2,000,000 – £3,000,000 ($2,751,999 – $4,127,999)
PRICE REALIZED GBP 2,528,750
Georg Baselitz (b. 1938)
Die Geisselung (The Flagellation)
oil on canvas 118 x 98 ½in. (299.7 x 250.2cm.)
ESTIMATE £2,200,000 – £2,800,000 ($3,027,199 – $3,852,799)
PRICE REALIZED GBP 2,768,750
Adrian Ghenie (b. 1977)
Study for The Kaiser Wilhelm Institute
oil on canvas 69 ½ x 45 5/8in. (176.5 x 116cm.)
ESTIMATE £400,000 – £600,000 ($550,399 – $825,599)
GBP 488,750
Gerhard Richter (b. 1932)
Venedig (Insel) (Venice (Island))
oil on canvas 19 7/8 x 27 ½in. (50.4 x 70cm.)
ESTIMATE £4,000,000 – £6,000,000 ($5,503,999 – $8,255,999)
PRICE REALIZED GBP 4,396,250
David Hockney (b. 1937)
California Bank
acrylic on canvas 30 x 25in. (76.2 x 63.5cm.)
ESTIMATE £3,000,000 – £5,000,000 ($4,127,999 – $6,879,999)
PRICE REALIZED GBP 3,608,750
Francis Bacon (1909-1992)
Three Studies for a Portrait
oil on canvas, in three parts each: 14 x 12in. (35.5 x 30.5cm.)
ESTIMATE £10,000,000 – £15,000,000 ($13,759,999 – $20,639,999)
PRICE REALIZED GBP 10,358,750
Peter Doig (b. 1959)
Snowballed Boy
oil on plywood 23 ¾ x 15 7/8in. (60.2 x 40.2cm.)
ESTIMATE £400,000 – £600,000 ($550,399 – $825,599)
PRICE REALIZED GBP 428,750
Peter Doig (b. 1959)
Charley’s Space
oil on canvas 72 x 50in. (183 x 127cm.)
ESTIMATE £6,000,000 – £8,000,000 ($8,255,999 – $11,007,999)
PRICE REALIZED GBP 10,921,250
Jackson Pollock (1912-1956)
Number 21, 1950
enamel and aluminium paint on masonite 22 ¼ x 22 ¼in. (56.5 x 56.5cm.)
ESTIMATE £10,000,000 – £15,000,000 ($13,759,999 – $20,639,999)
PRICE REALIZED GBP 9,346,250
Vija Celmins (b. 1938)
Hubble #3
charcoal on paper 15 x 17½in. (38 x 44.5cm.)
ESTIMATE £600,000 – £800,000 ($825,599 – $1,100,799)
PRICE REALIZED GBP 608,750
Mark Bradford (b. 1961)
Bear Running from the Shotgun
mixed media collage on canvas 84 x 108in. (213.4 x 274.3cm.)
ESTIMATE £2,200,000 – £2,800,000 ($3,027,199 – $3,852,799)
PRICE REALIZED GBP 3,833,750
Danh Vo (b.1975)
Nescafé
gold leaf on cardboard 22 5/8 x 37 ¼in. (58 x 94.6cm.)
ESTIMATE £200,000 – £300,000 ($275,199 – $412,799)
PRICE REALIZED GBP 272,750
Kelley Walker (b. 1969)
Black Star Press
four-colour process silkscreen on canvas 104 x 83in. (264.2 x 210.6cm.)
ESTIMATE £300,000 – £500,000 ($412,799 – $687,999)
PRICE REALIZED GBP 572,750
Lynette Yiadom-Boakye (b. 1977)
Canticle
oil on linen, in two parts left canvas: 75 ¼ x 59in. (191 x 150cm.) right canvas: 55 1/8 x 43 ¼in. (140 x 110cm.)
ESTIMATE £250,000 – £350,000 ($343,999 – $481,599)
UNSOLD
George Condo (b. 1957)
Figures in Motion
acrylic, charcoal and pastel on linen, in artist’s frame overall: 59 ¼ x 63 in. (151.1 x 160cm.)
ESTIMATE £1,000,000 – £1,500,000 ($1,375,999 – $2,063,999)
PRICE REALIZED GBP 1,868,750
Rudolf Stingel (b. 1956)
Untitled
oil and enamel on canvas 83 ¼ x 67in. (211.5 x 170.5cm.)
ESTIMATE £1,000,000 – £1,500,000 ($1,375,999 – $2,063,999)
PRICE REALIZED GBP 1,748,750
Rudolf Stingel (b. 1956)
Untitled
oil on canvas 131 x 101¾in. (332.7 x 258.4cm.)
ESTIMATE £2,800,000 – £3,500,000 ($3,852,799 – $4,815,999)
PRICE REALIZED GBP 2,648,750
Sturtevant (1926-2014)
Four Warhol Flowers
acrylic and silkscreen ink on four attached canvases each: 11 x 11in. (27.9 x 27.9cm.) overall: 22 x 22in. (56 x 56cm.)
ESTIMATE £120,000 – £180,000 ($165,120 – $247,680)
PRICE REALIZED GBP 236,750
Andy Warhol (1928-1987)
Birth of Venus (After Botticelli)
acrylic and silkscreen ink on canvas 48 x 72in. (122 x 183cm.)
ESTIMATE £4,500,000 – £6,500,000 ($6,191,999 – $8,943,999)
UNSOLD
Andreas Gursky (b. 1955)
Cocoon II
chromogenic print mounted on Plexiglas in artist’s frame image: 77 x 191in. (195.5 x 485cm.) overall: 83 ¼ x 199 3/8in. (211.5 x 506.5cm.)
ESTIMATE £350,000 – £550,000 ($481,599 – $756,799)
PRICE REALIZED GBP 428,750
Alighiero Boetti (1940-1994)
Mappa
embroidery on canvas embroidery: 43 ¾ x 68 7/8in. (111 x 175cm.) overall: 48 x 73 ½in. (121.8 x 186.8cm.)
ESTIMATE £900,000 – £1,300,000 ($1,238,399 – $1,788,799)
PRICE REALIZED GBP 1,448,750
Otto Piene (1928-2014)
Bronze and Gold IV
oil on canvas 31 ½ x 39 ½in. (80 x 100.5cm.)
ESTIMATE £250,000 – £450,000 ($343,999 – $619,199)
PRICE REALIZED GBP 392,750
Yves Klein (1928-1962)
Relief Éponge bleu sans titre (RE 37)
dry pigment and synthetic resin on natural sponges, on board 10 7/8 x 13 ¾ x 4 1/8in. (27.7 x 35 x 10.4cm.)
ESTIMATE £3,000,000 – £5,000,000 ($4,127,999 – $6,879,999)
PRICE REALIZED GBP 3,368,750
Lucio Fontana (1899-1968)
Concetto spaziale
waterpaint on canvas 39 ½ x 32in. (100.5 x 81.4cm.)
ESTIMATE £700,000 – £1,000,000 ($963,199 – $1,375,999)
PRICE REALIZED GBP 896,750
Maria Helena Vieira da Silva (1908-1992)
L’Incendie I (The Fire I)
oil on canvas 31 7/8 x 39 3/8in. (81 x 100cm.)
ESTIMATE £1,100,000 – £1,500,000 ($1,513,599 – $2,063,999)
PRICE REALIZED GBP 2,048,750
Alexander Calder (1898-1976)
Untitled
hanging mobile—sheet metal, wire and paint 66 ½ x 43 x 42in. (168.9 x 109.2 x 106.7cm.)
ESTIMATE £2,000,000 – £3,000,000 ($2,751,999 – $4,127,999)
PRICE REALIZED GBP 2,168,750
Agnes Martin (1912-2004) Words
ink and graphite on paper mounted on canvas
24 x 24in. (61 x 61cm.)
ESTIMATE £600,000 – £800,000 ($825,599 – $1,100,799)
PRICE REALIZED GBP 788,750
Lucian Freud (1922-2011)
Untitled
pencil on paper 12½ x 9½in. (31.8 x 24.3cm.)
ESTIMATE £300,000 – £500,000 ($412,799 – $687,999)
PRICE REALIZED GBP 416,750
David Hockney (b. 1937)
Felled Totem, September 8th 2009
oil on canvas 36 1/8 x 48 ¼in. (91.6 x 122.4cm.)
ESTIMATE £650,000 – £850,000 ($894,399 – $1,169,599)
PRICE REALIZED GBP 848,750
Sigmar Polke (1941-2010)
Bambusbild (Bamboo Picture)
dispersion on printed fabric 35 3/8 x 29 ½in. (90 x 75cm.)
ESTIMATE £700,000 – £1,000,000 ($963,199 – $1,375,999)
PRICE REALIZED GBP 776,750
Gerhard Richter (b. 1932)
Abstraktes Bild
oil on canvas 24 1/8 x 24 1/8in. (61 x 61cm.)
ESTIMATE £400,000 – £600,000 ($550,399 – $825,599)
PRICE REALIZED GBP 476,750
Imi Knoebel (b. 1940)
schief und schräg 2 (crooked and oblique 2)
acrylic on aluminium, in three parts overall: 76 x 114 5/8 x 3 ½in. (193 x 291 x 9cm.)
ESTIMATE £150,000 – £200,000 ($206,400 – $275,199)
PRICE REALIZED GBP 296,750
Cecily Brown (b. 1969)
Les Sept Jours de la Semaine (The Seven Days of the Week)
oil on linen, in seven parts each: 17 x 12¾in. (43.2 x 32.4 cm.) (7)
ESTIMATE £300,000 – £500,000 ($412,799 – $687,999)
UNSOLD
Grayson Perry (b. 1960)
Barbaric Splendour
glazed earthenware 26 1/8 x 14 x 14in. (67 x 35.5 x 35.5cm.)
ESTIMATE £70,000 – £100,000 ($96,320 – $137,600)
PRICE REALIZED GBP 224,750
Kristin Baker (b. 1975)
The Raft Of Perseus
acrylic on PVC, in two parts overall: 100 1/8 x 159 ½in. (254.4 x 405cm.)
ESTIMATE £50,000 – £70,000 ($68,800 – $96,320)
PRICE REALIZED GBP 100,000
Kenneth Noland (1924-2010)
Doo Gee
acrylic on canvas 69 ¼ x 69 ¼in. (176 x 176cm.)
ESTIMATE £300,000 – £500,000 ($412,799 – $687,999)
PRICE REALIZED GBP 632,750
Heinz Mack (b. 1931)
Untitled (Grey-Black Waves)
oil on canvas 49 ¼ x 43 3/8in. (125 x 110cm.)
ESTIMATE £180,000 – £250,000 ($247,680 – $343,999)
PRICE REALIZED GBP 260,750
Robert Mangold (b. 1937)
Irregular Red-Orange Area with A Drawn Ellipse #3
acrylic and pencil on canvas 83 1/8 x 67½in. (211 x 171.5cm.)
ESTIMATE £300,000 – £500,000 ($412,799 – $687,999)
PRICE REALIZED GBP 392,750
Carol Rama (1918-2015)
Mucca Pazza (Mad Cow)
inner tube, valve, polyurethane and leather on canvas 27 ½ x 39 3/8in. (70 x 100cm.)
ESTIMATE £120,000 – £180,000 ($165,120 – $247,680)
PRICE REALIZED GBP 175,000
Anish Kapoor (b. 1954)
Untitled
copper and lacquer 54 7/8 x 54 7/8 x 9 ¼in. (139.5 x 139.5 x 23.5cm.)
ESTIMATE £500,000 – £700,000 ($687,999 – $963,199)
PRICE REALIZED GBP 728,750
Josef Albers (1888-1976)
Homage to the Square: Decided
oil on masonite 40 x 40in. (101.6 x 101.6cm.)
ESTIMATE £700,000 – £1,000,000 ($963,199 – $1,375,999)
UNSOLD
Elizabeth Peyton (b. 1965)
Jake Chapman
oil on canvas 76 x 32in. (193 x 81.2cm.)
ESTIMATE £300,000 – £500,000 ($412,799 – $687,999)
PRICE REALIZED GBP 248,750
Duane Hanson (1925 – 1996)
Jogger
Polyvinyl acetate, polychromed in oil, and mixed media with accessories 32 x 33 x 41in. (81.3 x 83.8 x 104.1cm.)
ESTIMATE £200,000 – £300,000 ($275,199 – $412,799)
PRICE REALIZED GBP 224,750
Günther Uecker (b. 1930)
Spirale III
latex paint, pigment and nails on wood 78 ¾ x 78 ¾in. (200 x 200cm.)
ESTIMATE £400,000 – £600,000 ($550,399 – $825,599)
PRICE REALIZED GBP 464,750
Paul Thek (1933-1988)
Untitled
acrylic on newspaper, in four parts each: 24 ½ x 35in. (62 x 89cm.)
ESTIMATE £150,000 – £200,000 ($206,400 – $275,199)
UNSOLD