FRANCIS BACON THREE STUDIES FOR SELF-PORTRAIT Estimate: n.a. Price Realized: 17,289,250 GBP Christie’s - London 30 June 2008
	GINO SEVERINI DANSEUSE Estimate: 7,000,000 - 10,000,000 GBP Price Realized: 15,049,250 GBP Sotheby’s - London 25 June 2008

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.

LONDON - The July 2008 Evening Sale of Contemporary Art at Sotheby’s London achieved the phenomenal sum of £94,701,550 ($188,853,831) against a pre-sale estimate of £67.4 – 96.6 million, making it the most successful Summer sale of Contemporary Art in Europe. The sale had numerous high points throughout the evening, with records achieved for 11 different artists.

translated by Giorgina Arcuri

An interesting week is opening up for French auctions of modern and contemporary art. Paris and surroundings are going to offer various occasions to buy important pieces of high quality or even become owners of minor works, realized by very famous artists, for moderate amounts.
The events will be inaugurated on Monday 23rd by Cornette de Saint Cyr (Paris) with the Art Moderne - Art Contemporain auction, rich in paintings that are worth watching out for. Among the most important works:

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.

During this week, New York contemporary art auctions have surprised has with a number of new records. In this section, Arcadja presents the most important results of the last few days.

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.