Christie’s Impressionist and Modern Art and The Art of the Surreal Evening Auctions will take place on 7 February 2012 at 7pm with a pre-sale estimate of £86,205,000 -127,090,000 (corresponding estimate in 2011: £73.8-109 million). Combined with the Impressionist, Modern and Surrealist works which will be offered in Living with Art – A Private European Collection (please click here for separate release), the total value of art offered in the Evening Sales between 7 and 9 February is £97,761,000-145,090,000.
Heralding the final portion of The Collection of Elizabeth Taylor landmark series of sales, a formidable group of 38 pictures from the iconic actress’ collection will be offered between 7 and 8 February led by Vue de l’asile et de la Chapelle de Saint-Rémy, 1889, by Vincent Van Gogh (1853-1890). This historic painting encapsulates the artist’s original and unique vision and is estimated to realise between £5-7 million.
The leading highlight of the sales is Le livre, an important Cubist still life painted by Juan Gris (1887-1927) between 1914 and 1915, a key date in the artist’s oeuvre (estimate: £12-18 million). This work was exhibited in the major post-war exhibition Cubisme at Galerie de France, Paris, in 1945.The Art of the Surreal is led by an extremely rare early work Painting-Poem (“le corps de ma brune puisque je l’aime comme ma chatte habillée en vert salade comme de la grêle c’est pareil”), 1925, which is the most significant Surrealist painting by Joan Miró (1893-1983) to be offered at auction in the last decade (estimate: £6-9 million).
Christie’s, the world’s leading art business had global auction and private sales in 2010 that totaled £3.3 billion/$5.0 billion. Christie’s is a name and place that speaks of extraordinary art, unparalleled service and expertise, as well as international glamour. Founded in 1766 by James Christie, Christie’s conducted the greatest auctions of the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, and today remains a popular showcase for the unique and the beautiful. Christie’s offers over 450 sales annually in over 80 categories, including all areas of fine and decorative arts, jewellery, photographs, collectibles, wine, and more. Prices range from $200 to over $100 million. Christie’s has 53 offices in 32 countries and 10 salerooms around the world including in London, New York, Paris, Geneva, Milan, Amsterdam, Dubai, Zürich, and Hong Kong. More recently, Christie’s has led the market with expanded initiatives in emerging and new markets such as Russia, China, India and the United Arab Emirates, with successful sales and exhibitions in Beijing, Mumbai and Dubai.
