Share this page
$28.6m Picasso leads Sotheby's Impressionist & Modern Art Evening sale
La Lecture ranks high in Picasso's oeuvre - could it be another World Record priced piece for the artist?
The Impressionist & Modern Art Evening sale this February will feature an iconic painting by Pablo Picasso of his muse Marie-Thérèse, La Lecture, painted in 1932. Picasso's iconic paintings of his lover Marie-Thérèse Walter are regarded by many as reigning supreme as the emblems of love, sex and desire in 20th century art.
The sensual La Lecture, which is one of the most recognisable images among this landmark series from the beginning of 1932, essentially introduced the young woman as an extraordinary new presence in Picasso's life and his art.
This exceptional work is one in a series of defining paintings in the artist's oeuvre in which he depicts his lover asleep in an armchair, the curves of her body transformed into a sumptuous confection with colourful swirls and sweeping arabesques.
La Lecture belongs to a group of works painted in January 1932 in anticipation of the major retrospective that Picasso was planning that coming June. Depicting his model asleep in an armchair, with an open book on her lap, La Lecture is among Picasso's most sensuous portrayals of his lover and is expected to sell for £12m-18m (up to $28.6m).
 Picasso's painting La Lecture (£12m-18m) |
Another exceptional work in the sale is Marino Marini's L'Idea del Cavaliere, a monumental bronze sculpture on the theme of horse and rider, hand-painted in bright red and black by the artist.
Alberto Giacometti is represented in the sale by two remarkable depictions of his brother Diego, in bronze and in oil. The auction will also present a very strong group of Surrealist works, including an oil and exceptional gouaches by Magritte, as well as paintings by Miró and Tanguy.
Sotheby's evening sale takes place on February 8 in London.
- Click here to view our Art & Photography stock items for sale
- Learn how you can get pleasure and profit by investing in fine art and photography
- Read all the latest Art & Photography news
Join our readers in over 200 countries around the world - sign up for your free weekly Collectibles Newsletter today or download our free Collectors News app for your iPhone
Recent and related articles...
· Roy Lichtenstein painting hidden for 59 years sells for $110,000 | 14 December 2010
The Statesman had hung on a living room wall with its true value unknown until recently
· Archibald Thorburn's painting, The Covey at Daybreak could sell for $236,000 | 9 December 2010
A masterpiece by the Scottish artist who was vice-president of the RSPB is on offer in London
· Alexander Yakovlev stars in Sotheby's $10.2m Russian art resurgence |30 November 2010
Collectors hope that Sotheby's art auction, held in London signals a bright future for Russian art
· Rodchenko's Communist propaganda posters take a stand at $110,000| 26 November 2010
The 1925 posters celebrating the history of the Communist party are set to go under the hammer
· 'Cash from art': Bank of Ireland art sale shows investors the way forward | 25 November 2010
Here's a look at how the world's top mainstream investment firms are embracing alternative assets
www.paulfrasercollectibles.com
Images: Sotheby's
