Christie's Sets New Records for Matisse and Gris

Henri Matisse, Nu de Dos, 4 État (Back IV), (conceived in 1930, cast in 1978). Private Collection.

More Records Set at Christie's

Lots of bidding and big prices tonight, some of the highlights...

Matisse's “Nu de Dos, 4 État (Back IV)”, (conceived in 1930, cast in 1978), sold last night to famous dealer Larry Gagosian for $48.8 million after intense bidding between four parties. Though he related that he had bid for a client, the actual buyer remains anonymous. This is a record for Matisse at auction and was far above the pre-sale estimate.

Another new record for an artist at auction was set for Juan Gris last night when his “Violin and Guitar,” a masterpiece Cubist still - life. Though originally thought to bring $18 million to $25 million, went for $28.6 million, to another anonymous buyer, this time by telephone.

Schiele's “Man and Woman,” the 1917 work I had drooled over in the catalogue, went much higher than originally thought and ultimately sold for $7.3 million to Robert Mnuchin (L& M Arts) after heavy bidding over the drawing.

For more on the auction, see Souren Melikian's article from 'The New York Times'

Sotheby's Sets New Record for Artist Modigliani at Auction

As everyone will read tomorrow in the papers...

Tonight at the Impressionist and Modern Evening Sale at Sotheby's, Amedeo Modigliani's La Belle Romaine from 1917 set a new record for the artist at auction selling for $68.9 million dollars.

A bevy of bidders after the $5 million mark made the work soar past the $40 million estimate and into a new record. The final price was over four times the $16.8 million paid for the painting over a decade ago at another Sotheby's sale.

Updates will continue as the sales progress!! Great start to an exciting week...