Con i 397,159,500$ di stasera da Christie’s si chiude la settimana di fuoco delle aste newyorkesi di arte impressionista, moderna e contemporanea. Sommando i totali di tutte le sessioni (eccetto la day sale di domani) sia Christie’s che Sotheby’s e dell’asta Rockefeller della settimana scorsa si arriva al totale impressionante di 2.440.754.694 $.
Molti i nuovi record realizzati anche stasera e pochi gli invenduti (5 lotti su 65). L’amore di Francis Bacon per George Dyer ha guidato l’asta con 49,812,500. Il suo “Study for Portrait” (1977) è stato venduto al di sopra della stima ($ 30 milioni). L’opera era fresca sul mercato. Proveniva dalla collezione di Magnus Konow, che l’aveva acquistata dalla Marlborough Gallery negli anni ’70. Konow e Bacon erano amici e passavano molto tempo insieme, spesso a giocare nei casinò di Montecarlo. L’artista a volte vi si recava insieme a Lucian Freud e quando si trovava lì a volte soggiornava da Konow. Da giovane Konow aveva acquistato diverse opere dei pittori della “Scuola di Londra” e in particolare di Bacon. “Study for Portrait”fu esposto per la prima volta a Londra lo stesso anno della creazione, il 1977, alla Royal Academy of Arts in una mostra collettiva dal titolo“British Painting: 1952-77”. Konow raccontava così della potenza di questa tela: «Bacon parlava sempre di Dyer. Penso che fosse l’unico uomo che avesse amato veramente nella sua vita. Questo lavoro per me è probabilmente uno dei migliori dipinti della loro storia d’amore».
Tra gli altri top price l’enorme tela (alta oltre 2 metri) di Mark Rothko, “No. 7 (Dark Over Light)”, del 1954. L’opera, che è appartenuta al CEO di Yahoo! Terry Semel, è stata venduta in linea con la stima a 30,687,500 $. Fa parte di un ristretto numero di tele della metà degli anni ’50, le più ampie dipinte dall’artistain cui predominano i toni scuri, colori malinconici e cupi.
Di Andy Warhol “Double Elvis [FerusType]” del 1963 è stato venduto a 37,000,000 mentre “MostWanted Men, No. 11, John Joseph H., Jr.” del 1964, a 28,437,500 $, poco al di sotto della stima. (leggi qui un focus sulle due opere)
La gigantesca e colorata scultura Play-Doh di Jeff Koons, parte della serie “Celebration”, è passata di mano per 22,812,500 dollari.
Tutti venduti i 13 lavori di Richard Diebenkorn, che con ‘Ocean Park #126’ battuto a $23,937,500 ha realizzato il suo nuovo record d’asta. Gli altri artisti che hanno infranto il proprio top price sono stati: David Wojnarowicz con ‘Science Lesson’ ($708,500), Joan Mitchell con “Blueberry” ($16,625,000); Morris Louis che nel giro di pochi minuti ha infranto il record due volte, prima con ‘Number 4-32’ ($3,852,500) e poco dopo con “Devolving” ($5,712,500), George Condo con ‘Nude and Forms’ ($6,162,500) Nicolas de Staël con ‘Nu Debout’ ($12,125,000), Robert Gober ($7,287,500) e infine Jean Dubuffet con “Le Dandy’, record per una sua scultura ($2,292,500).
David Hockney (b. 1937)
Antheriums
oil on canvas in painted artist’s frame overall: 41 1/4 x 53 1/8 in. (104.7 x 134.9 cm.)
ESTIMATE $2,500,000 – $3,500,000
PRICE REALIZED 5,600,000
Richard Diebenkorn (1922-1993)
Cityscape #3
oil on canvas 47 x 50 1/8 in. (119.4 x 127.3 cm.)
ESTIMATE $4,000,000 – $6,000,000
PRICE REALIZED 5,262,500
Urs Fischer (b. 1973)
Original Problem
aluminum panel, aluminum honeycomb, two-component epoxy adhesive, two-component epoxy primer, galvanized steel rivet nuts, acrylic primer, gesso, acrylic ink, spray enamel, acrylic silkscreen medium and acrylic paint 96 x 72 in. (243.8 x 182.9 cm.)
ESTIMATE $1,000,000 – $1,500,000
PRICE REALIZED 1,092,500
Joan Mitchell (1925-1992)
Blueberry
oil on canvas 78 7/8 x 59 in. (200 x 150 cm.)
ESTIMATE $5,000,000 – $7,000,000
PRICE REALIZED 16,625,000
Christopher Wool (b. 1955)
Untitled
alkyd and graphite on paper 35 x 24 in. (88.9 x 61 cm.)
ESTIMATE $2,500,000 – $3,500,000
UNSOLD
Lucian Freud (1922-2011)
Lord Goodman
charcoal on paper 25 1/4 x 19 3/4 in. (64.2 x 47.8 cm.)
ESTIMATE $700,000 – $1,000,000
PRICE REALIZED 912,500
Willem de Kooning (1904-1997)
Untitled XVIII
oil on canvas 59 1/2 x 55 in. (151.1 x 139.7 cm.)
ESTIMATE $8,000,000 – $12,000,000
PRICE REALIZED 10,887,500
Joan Mitchell (1925-1992)
Untitled
oil on canvas 81 1/4 x 108 1/2 in. (206.3 x 275.6 cm.)
ESTIMATE $7,000,000 – $9,000,000
PRICE REALIZED 9,087,500
Agnes Martin (1912-2004)
Untitled #7
acrylic and graphite on canvas 72 x 72 in. (182.9 x 182.9 cm.)
ESTIMATE $4,000,000 – $6,000,000
PRICE REALIZED 5,712,500
Sam Francis (1923-1994)
Black and Red
oil on canvas 45 5/8 x 35 in. (115.8 x 88.9 cm.)
ESTIMATE $1,400,000 – $1,800,000
UNSOLD
François-Xavier Lalanne (1927-2008)
The Mayersdorff Bar
maillechort, steel, brass, copper, blown glass height raised: 82 1/2 in. (209.5 cm.) height closed: 62 in. (157.5 cm.) width: 88 in. (223.5 cm.) depth: 35 3/4 in. (91 cm.)
ESTIMATE $2,200,000 – $2,800,000
PRICE REALIZED 4,572,500
Untitled
oil on canvas
16 1/8 x 13 1/4 in. (41 x 33.7 cm.)
ESTIMATE $450,000 – $550,000
PRICE REALIZED 552,500
PHILIP GUSTON (1913-1980)
Moonlight
oil on canvas 46 x 68 1/2 in. (121.9 x 174 cm.)
ESTIMATE $5,000,000 – $7,000,000
RITIRATO
Jean Dubuffet (1901-1985)
Sécréter son Habitat
acrylic on paper collage mounted on canvas 75 x 67 1/2 in. (190.5 x 171.4 cm.)
ESTIMATE $1,500,000 – $2,000,000
PRICE REALIZED 2,412,500
Willem de Kooning (1904-1997)
Untitled VII
oil on canvas 77 1/2 x 88 in. (196.8 x 223.5 cm.)
ESTIMATE $4,000,000 – $6,000,000
PRICE REALIZED 5,937,500
Clyfford Still (1904-1980)
PH-916 (1946-No. 1)
oil on canvas 71 x 45 in. (180.3 x 114.3 cm.)
ESTIMATE $15,000,000 – $20,000,000
UNSOLD
Morris Louis (1912-1962)
Devolving
Magna on canvas 68 x 100 1/4 in. (172.7 x 254.6 cm.)
ESTIMATE $5,000,000 – $7,000,000
PRICE REALIZED 5,712,500
Richard Diebenkorn (1922-1993)
Sausalito
oil on canvas 45 3/8 x 34 in. (115.2 x 86.3 cm.)
ESTIMATE $500,000 – $700,000
PRICE REALIZED 552,500
Rosemarie Trockel (b. 1952)
Made in Western Germany
knitted wool 98 1/2 x 71 in. (250 x 180 cm.)
ESTIMATE $1,500,000 – $2,000,000
PRICE REALIZED 1,332,500
Cy Twombly (1928-2011)
Untitled (Murder of Olofernes)
graphite, colored pencil, wax crayon and ballpoint pen on paper 27 1/2 x 39 1/2 in. (69.8 x 100.4 cm.)
ESTIMATE $500,000 – $700,000
PRICE REALIZED 852,500
Jean Dubuffet (1901-1985)
Le Dandy
polyurethane paint on epoxy resin with metal base 128 x 73 1/2 x 28 3/8 in. (326 x 187 x 72 cm.)
ESTIMATE $1,000,000 – $2,000,000
PRICE REALIZED 2,292,500
Richard Diebenkorn (1922-1993)
Nude—Elbow on Knee
oil on canvas 24 x 17 1/4 in. (61 x 43.8 cm.)
ESTIMATE $800,000 – $1,200,000
PRICE REALIZED 1,152,500
Richard Diebenkorn (1922-1993)
Untitled
gouache, acrylic and crayon on paper 36 x 25 in. (91.4 x 63.5 cm.)
ESTIMATE $2,500,000 – $3,500,000
PRICE REALIZED 3,852,500
Andy Warhol (1928-1987)
Diamond Dust Shoes
acrylic, silkscreen inks and diamond dust on canvas 90 1/4 x 70 1/8 in. (229.2 x 178.1 cm.)
ESTIMATE $2,000,000 – $3,000,000
PRICE REALIZED 2,412,500
Richard Diebenkorn (1922-1993)
Untitled
gouache on paper 12 1/2 x 9 in. (31.8 x 22.9 cm.)
ESTIMATE $300,000 – $500,000
PRICE REALIZED 432,500
Damien Hirst (B. 1965)
Away from the Flock
glass, painted steel, silicone, acrylic, plastic, lamb and formaldehyde solution 38 1/2 x 58 1/2 x 20 in. (97.8 x 149 x 51 cm.)
ESTIMATE $4,000,000 – $6,000,000
PRICE REALIZED 4,412,500
ANDY WARHOL (1928-1987)
Flowers
synthetic polymer and silkscreen inks on canvas 24 x 24 in. (61 x 61 cm.)
ESTIMATE $1,800,000 – $2,500,000
PRICE REALIZED 2,112,500
Franz Kline (1910-1962)
Third Avenue
oil on canvas 38 x 25 in. (96.5 x 63.5 cm.)
ESTIMATE $3,000,000 – $5,000,000
PRICE REALIZED 3,252,500
Donald Judd (1928-1994)
Untitled
stainless steel and red anodized aluminum ten units—each: 9 x 40 x 31 in. (22.9 x 101.6 x 78.7 cm.) total installation height: 180 in. (457.2 cm.)
ESTIMATE $6,000,000 – $8,000,000
UNSOLD
Robert Gober (b. 1954)
Untitled
bronze, wood, brick, aluminum, beeswax, human hair, chrome-plated bronze, recycling pump and water, plaster and latex paint overall: 58 3/4 x 50 x 34 in. (149.2 x 127 x 86.3 cm.) bronze grate: 1 1/2 x 29 1/4 x 22 in. (3.8 x 74.3 x 55.8 cm.) box: 28 1/2 x 29 1/4 x 22 in. (72.4 x 74.3 x 55.8 cm.) tank: 28 3/4 x 50 x 34 in. (73 x 127 x 86.3 cm.)
ESTIMATE $6,000,000 – $8,000,000
PRICE REALIZED 7,287,500
Richard Diebenkorn (1922-1993)
Untitled
gouache and charcoal on paper 10 7/8 x 16 7/8 in. (27.6 x 42.9 cm.)
ESTIMATE $300,000 – $500,000
PRICE REALIZED 468,500
Christopher Wool (b. 1955)
Lester
enamel on canvas 108 1/4 x 72 in. (275 x 182.8 cm.)
ESTIMATE $2,600,000 – $3,200,000
PRICE REALIZED 3,372,500
Richard Diebenkorn (1922-1993)
Berkeley #25
oil on canvas 17 7/8 x 21 5/8 in. (45.4 x 54.9 cm.)
ESTIMATE $700,000 – $1,000,000
PRICE REALIZED 1,032,500
Barnett Newman (1905-1970)
Untitled
brush and ink on paper 14 x 10 in. (35.5 x 25.4 cm.)
ESTIMATE $1,200,000 – $1,800,000
PRICE REALIZED 2,052,500
Morris Louis (1912-1962)
Number 4-32
Magna on canvas 81 1/4 x 44 7/8 in. (206.4 x 114 cm.)
ESTIMATE $2,000,000 – $3,000,000
PRICE REALIZED 3,852,500
Tom Wesselmann (1931-2004)
Little Great American Nude #27
acrylic and gesso on Novaply 8 1/2 x 16 in. (21.5 x 40.6 cm.)
ESTIMATE $400,000 – $600,000
PRICE REALIZED 552,500
Richard Diebenkorn (1922-1993)
Untitled
gouache, charcoal and pasted paper on joined paper 33 3/4 x 23 in. (85.7 x 58.4 cm.)
ESTIMATE $1,000,000 – $1,500,000
PRICE REALIZED 1,092,500
Mark Rothko (1903-1970)
No. 7 (Dark Over Light)
oil on canvas 90 1/8 x 58 5/8 in. (228.8 x 148.8 cm.)
ESTIMATE Estimate on request
PRICE REALIZED 30,687,500
Kerry James Marshall (b. 1955)
You Must Suffer if You Want to be Beautiful
acrylic, graphite, crayon, paper collage and printed paper collage on canvas 76 1/8 x 55 7/8 in. (193.3 x 141.9 cm.)
ESTIMATE $2,000,000 – $3,000,000
PRICE REALIZED 2,292,500
Andy Warhol (1928-1987)
Most Wanted Men No. 11, John Joseph H., Jr.
diptych—silkscreen ink on linen each: 49 x 38 in. (124.5 x 96.5 cm.)
ESTIMATE Estimate on request
PRICE REALIZED 28,437,500
Yves Klein (1928-1962)
Anthropométrie sans titre, (ANT 49)
dry pigment and synthetic resin on paper laid down on canvas 42 7/8 x 25 5/8 in. (108.9 x 65 cm.)
ESTIMATE $3,500,000 – $4,500,000
PRICE REALIZED 4,212,500
Ellsworth Kelly (1923-2015)
Four Panels
oil on canvas, four joined panels overall: 27 x 120 in. (69 x 305 cm.)
ESTIMATE $1,800,000 – $2,500,000
PRICE REALIZED 2,292,500
Alexander Calder (1898-1976)
Untitled
hanging mobile—sheet metal, wire and paint 44 x 82 x 20 1/2 in. (111.7 x 208.2 x 52 cm.)
ESTIMATE $2,200,000 – $2,800,000
PRICE REALIZED 3,612,500
Richard Diebenkorn (1922-1993)
Table and Folding Chair
oil on canvas 28 3/8 x 39 in. (72 x 99 cm.)
ESTIMATE $900,000 – $1,200,000
PRICE REALIZED 852,500
Francis Bacon (1909-1992)
Study for Portrait
oil and dry transfer lettering on canvas 78 x 58 1/8 in. (198.2 x 147.7 cm.)
ESTIMATE Estimate on request
PRICE REALIZED 49,812,500
Dan Flavin (1933-1996)
“monument” for V Tatlin
cool white fluorescent light 96 x 30 1/2 x 5 in. (243.8 x 77.5 x 12.7 cm.)
ESTIMATE $800,000 – $1,200,000
UNSOLD
Christopher Wool (b. 1955)
Untitled
enamel on linen 106 x 96 in. (269.2 x 243.9 cm.)
ESTIMATE $7,500,000 – $9,500,000
PRICE REALIZED 8,262,500
Richard Diebenkorn (1922-1993)
Untitled
oil on canvas 14 x 10 1/4 in. (35.6 x 26 cm.)
ESTIMATE $400,000 – $600,000
PRICE REALIZED 432,500
Walton Ford (b. 1960)
It Makes Me Think of that Awful Day
watercolor, gouache, ink and graphite on paper mounted on aluminum 108 x 144 in. (274.3 x 365.8 cm.)
ESTIMATE $900,000 – $1,200,000
PRICE REALIZED 1,212,500
Georg Baselitz (b. 1938)
Trinker
oil on canvas 51 x 38 1/4 in. (129.5 x 97.3 cm.)
ESTIMATE $1,200,000 – $1,800,000
PRICE REALIZED 3,372,500
Agnes Martin (1912-2004)
Love
acrylic and graphite on canvas 60 x 60 in. (152.4 x 152.4 cm.)
ESTIMATE $2,500,000 – $3,500,000
PRICE REALIZED 1,932,500
Frank Stella (b. 1936)
Lettre sur les sourds et muets I
synthetic polymer paint on canvas 141 x 141 in. (358.1 x 358.1 cm.)
ESTIMATE $5,000,000 – $7,000,000
PRICE REALIZED 7,062,500
George Condo (b. 1957)
Nude and Forms
oil on canvas 80 x 72 in. (203.2 x 183 cm.)
ESTIMATE $2,200,000 – $2,800,000
PRICE REALIZED 6,162,500
Mark Bradford (b. 1961)
Boreas
mixed media collage on canvas 102 x 144 in. (259.1 x 365.8 cm.)
ESTIMATE $5,000,000 – $7,000,000
PRICE REALIZED 7,625,000
Richard Diebenkorn (1922-1993)
Untitled
oil on canvas 28 1/8 x 26 in. (71.4 x 66 cm.)
ESTIMATE $2,000,000 – $3,000,000
PRICE REALIZED 4,692,500
Andy Warhol (1928-1987)
Double Elvis [Ferus Type]
silkscreen ink and spray paint on linen 81 3/4 x 48 in. (207.6 x 121.9 cm.)
ESTIMATE Estimate on request
PRICE REALIZED 38,000,000
Nicolas de Staël (1914-1955)
Nu Debout
oil on canvas 57 1/2 x 35 1/8 in. (146 x 89 cm.)
ESTIMATE $7,500,000 – $9,500,000
PRICE REALIZED 12,125,000
Wayne Thiebaud (b. 1920)
Cake Rows
oil on canvas 16 1/8 x 22 in. (41 x 55.8 cm.)
ESTIMATE $1,800,000 – $2,500,000
PRICE REALIZED 4,812,500
Jeff Koons (b. 1955)
Play-Doh
polychromed aluminum 124 x 152 1/4 x 137 in. (315 x 386.7 x 348 cm.)
ESTIMATE Estimate on request
PRICE REALIZED 22,812,500
David Wojnarowicz (1954-1992)
Science Lesson
acrylic, spray enamel and photographs mounted on four Masonite panels overall: 96 x 144 in. (243.8 x 365.7 cm.)
ESTIMATE $400,000 – $600,000
PRICE REALIZED 708,500
Richard Diebenkorn (1922-1993)
Ocean Park #126
oil on canvas 93 x 81 in. (236.2 x 205.7 cm.)
ESTIMATE $16,000,000 – $20,000,000
PRICE REALIZED 23,937,500
John Currin (b. 1962)
Venus with Watch
oil on canvas 54 1/8 x 70 1/4 in. (137.5 x 178.3 cm.)
ESTIMATE $3,000,000 – $5,000,000
UNSOLD
Jeff Koons (b. 1955)
Lobster
mirror-polished stainless steel with transparent color coating 57 7/8 x 18 7/8 x 37 in. (147 x 47.9 x 94 cm.)
ESTIMATE $5,000,000 – $7,000,000
PRICE REALIZED 5,487,500
Richard Diebenkorn (1922-1993)
Untitled
acrylic, crayon, graphite and pasted paper on joined paper 37 3/8 x 25 in. (94.9 x 63.5 cm.)
ESTIMATE $2,200,000 – $3,000,000
PRICE REALIZED 3,972,500