PARIS.- The Impressionist and Modern Art and Works on paper sale achieved a total of €10,347,375, attracting international bidding from 30 countries through the Internet, the phones and in the saleroom. The top lot of the sale was a rare Nude from her cubist period by Marie Vassilieff which sold for €680,000, the second highest price achieved for the artist at auction. Another highlight of the sale was the second part of the collection “De Caillebotte à Calder” which achieved a combined total of €938,750 including two emblematic works by Raoul Dufy, Le port du Havre which sold for €325,000 and the colourful work Nu dans l’atelier de la place Arago à Perpignan which realised €375,000, against a presale estimate of €120,000-180,000.

Antoine Lebouteiller, Director of the department, and Valérie Didier, Head of sale : “We are proud of these strong results achieved for this sale which brought together a great selection of rediscovered and fresh to the market works of art. Collectors responded positively to the works’ high quality offered today, as shown by the great results achieved for numerous works such as for an unpublished gouache Femme à la toilette executed by Pierre Bonnard which was acquired for €450,000 tripling its presale estimate, or a fantastic result achieved for a drawing by Picasso, Table et mandoline which realised €212,500, estimated at €30,000-50,000. We are particularly thrilled by the interest of collectors for the splendid Nude executed by Marie Vassilieff which triggered a bidding battle and was acquired for €680,000, against a presale estimate of €250,000-350,000 – A great start for our upcoming sale dedicated to “Women artists” scheduled for 16 June.”

The Modern works on paper section was highlighted by major artists and works, such as the exquisite watercolour Manège de cochons by Robert Delaunay which sold for €620,000, the fourth highest price achieved for a work on paper for the artist at auction.

The demand for a more classical taste was also present in the sale with an impressive charcoal drawing by Edgar Degas, Danseuses en maillot, au repos which achieved €375,000. Two pastel flower bouquets by Odilon Redon characterized by the delicacy and fresh pigments, Géraniums et fleurs des champs and Pensées, each priced €120,000-180,000, achieved a combined total of €362,500.

In the Impressionist and Modern art section, strong results were achieved for sculptures such as Femme debout executed by Aristide Maillol, which was acquired for €250,000 more than doubling its initial estimate. Two sculptures by Miró have also appealed collectors including Personnage double face, executed with the sculptor Josep Llorens i Artigas which sold for €325,000, and the sculpture Oiseau perché sur un arbre which was acquired for €175,000. In terms of paintings, the beautiful landscape realised by Felix Vallotton, Chemin de la croix rouge sold for €375,000; the moonlit scene by Henri Le Sidaner was purchased for €325 000 and the impressive decorative panel by Henri Martin from the Tissier collection achieved €218 750.