VIENNA.- After the success of Fernando Botero (€393,400) at the Modern Art auction, another work by a South American-born artist demonstrated his strength on the art market at Dorotheum, the following day (May 16). At the Contemporary Art auction, the three-dimensional wall object "Untitled (Escritura)" by Jesús Rafael Soto from the collection of artist Gianni Colombo, reached 491,000 euros.

An untitled work by abstract expressionist Philip Guston came to a tremendous 470,860 euros. After Dorotheum set the world record for Emilio Vedova last year, they set further benchmarks for its market value, with 430,000 and 234,800 euros respectively for two of the artist's works.

Two versions of Lucio Fontana's famous "Concetto Spaziale" from the 1960s changed owners for 552,000 and 539,800 euros. Art from Germany was represented, among other pieces, with an abstract work by Hans Hartung. 15 telephone bidders vied for the painting, which raised far above the estimated value to 186,000 euros.

Further highlights include works by Yayoi Kusama, Victor Vasarely, Asger Jorn, Maria Lassnig, Carla Accardi and Katharina Grosse.

Nearly 400,000 euros for a Botero painting at Modern Art Auction - world record for Pippo Rizzo

Three women - three styles - three artists: All of them achieved outstanding sales prices at the Modern Art auction on 15 May 2018 at Dorotheum
The painting of a voluminous Odalisque in the unmistakable style of Fernando Botero reached an astounding 393,400 euros. Henri Matisse once said, “The spirit of the painting determines the drawing.” His ink drawing of a woman, Portrait de femme avec un collier, from 1937, embodies exactly that (€344,600).

Edgar Degas' depiction of a ballet dancer combines graphic and painterly components, and achieved a sales price of 234,800 euros. 32,500 euros for the fencers "Schermidori" by the futurist Pippo Rizzo, means a world record for a work by the artist.

Austrian artists Kolo Moser, Oskar Laske, Alfons Walde and Gustav Klimt excelled with high bid increases.