In the last few weeks, London city has proved to be the European capital of the art market. With sales dedicated to the modern and impressionist sector, Sotheby’s and Christie’s have confirmed the good state of the market. Indeed, the “Impressionist and Modern Art Evening Sale” held on 24th June fetched 144 million pounds (284 million dollars), achieving the highest total for a European auction and giving “Le bassin aux nymphèas” by Claude Monet the new world record for the artist, selling the piece for 41 million pounds.

Here you are the most interesing prices of last days.

translated by Giorgina Arcuri

On 27th May, Sotheby’s Milan housed “Modern and Contemporary Art”, a very interesting auction that totalled 12,368,680 euros. Of the 345 lots presented to the public in the saleroom, during the three rounds, the works of some great artists stood out, pieces that have marked the evolution of the history of Italian art, such as “Achrome” by Piero Manzoni (estimate 500-700 thousand euros, sold for 800 thousand euros, rights excluded) or a beautiful painting executed by Giuseppe Santomaso in 1959, which from a pre-sale estimate included between 120 and 180 thousand euros, achieved 110,000 euros (rights excluded), while another work from 1978, valued at 120-180 thousand euros, sold for 210,000 (rights excluded).

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Only few days are left until the auction of Modern and Contemporary Art that will be held at Christie’s Milan. For the 26th May the Italian public, but not only, is getting ready for this extraordinary sale that will have as protagonists the most famous names of Italian 20th century art, such as Mario Schifano, Giuseppe Capogrossi, Enzo Cucchi, Tano Festa, Renato Guttuso, but also more international figures, including Tom Wesselmann, Hans Hartung and Victor Vasarely.

The Contemporary Art Evening Sale, which took place on 14th May at Sotheby’s New York, was a record auction from every point of view. Firstly, for its turnover: 362,037,000 dollars, well above the best estimates which expected the auction to realize between 288.1 million and 354.7 million dollars. This is the second best result ever achieved in the world for a contemporary art auction and the most important sale in the history of Sotheby’s. 73 lots of the 83 presented were sold and represented 86.8% of the works by value.

Article translated by Amritee Mahabir

On 14th May 2008 the auction house Sotheby’s in New York will begin the session dedicated to the “Contemporary Art Evening Auction”. The auction will showcase 85 lots which will feature great, and famous international contemporary art stars like Banksy, Damien Hirst, Jeff Koons and many others.