Modern Art masters make a strong impression in $5.8m Bonhams sale

 

An impressive collection of works produced by influential artists like Amedeo Modigliani, Marc Chagall, Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Joan Miro lit up Bonhams' Impressionist and Modern Art sale yesterday, June 21.

The exciting collection of paintings, sketches and sculptures, bringing art produced by some of the most famous names in the business together, made a total of £3,571,440 ($5,797,143).

The standout piece was a delicately painted oil on canvas work by Italian artist Amedeo Modigliani, which reached a final price of £1,812,000 ($2,941,219).

 


Trademark Modigliani techniques define this $1,812,000 painting

Called Portrait de Femme, it contains many of his trademark stylistic features, like elongating the subject's face, giving them almond-shaped eyes and letting the work have a patchwork feel to it. Its undeniable quality meant it was always likely to sell for a high value, and it was fought over by bidders.

Modigliani is famed for his female portraits like this one, as they are said to be the reason why 'the artist earned his place in the history of art'.

Unsurprisingly for a sale of influential modern artists, Pablo Picasso's work also made an appearance, and proved as popular as ever. His two pieces, Tete de matador and Femme nue assise, both sold for more than £200,000 ($324,756).

 


Joan Miro's Femme was one of the main draws of the sale

Works by Joan Miro, who in many ways was the main draw of this auction, also did not disappoint, selling for high amounts. His crayon and ink on paper piece, simply titled Femme, made a final price of £90,000 ($146,101).

His deceivingly simple art with its complex use of colour and shapes is highly collectible, so it is clear why it sold above it estimate. Another of his pieces, a delightfully abstract watercolour called Tete, proved this by selling for £120,000 ($194,470).

Works by artists like these are always going to perform well at auction because of their quality and reputation, so keeping one by as an investment is always wise.

 

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