VIENNA.- The newly rediscovered work by one of modern art's masters has exceptional origins and dates to 1924, the period following Chagall's migration from Russia to Paris. Chagall regarded the bouquet, a key motif in his artistic imagery, as a symbol of joie-de-vivre.
Other works with top prices included Giacomo Balla's vibrantly futuristic ´Valori Plastici´ (€320,200) and Francis Picabia's ´Untitled´ 1932 watercolour drawing (€234,800).
Not to be outshone, Austrian art also put in a formidable performance: fresh-to-the-market works by Josef Engelhart Art Nouveau artist recorded a world record. His nine large-format drawings for his contribution to the 1904 World Fair in St. Louis ('The Legend of Merlin') went for four times their estimate at a breath-taking €582,400. Finally, a collector paid €176,670 for 'Santa Maria della Salute', a Venetian scene by Carl Moll.
This was the best Modern Art Auction in
Dorotheum's history.
KICK-OFF WITH WORLD RECORD
A big night for contemporary art
Dorotheum's Contemporary Art auction on 22 November started with a bang thanks to a horde of bidders locked in a bidding war on the phone lines for Julije Knifer's "Kompozicija no. 12" 1969, resulting in a sensational winning price of €161,600, securing another world record price for Dorotheum for the Croatian artist.
The auction continued with soaring bids and a high sell-through rate: Enrico Castellani's 1987 work "Superficie Bianca" achieved a stunning €320,200; Tano Festa hit €295,800 for "Rosso Nero n. 44" exceeding all expectations.
Meanwhile, Lucio Fontana's 1964 work "Concetto spaziale, Teatrino" raked in €259,200, and bids for Paolo Scheggi's "Intersuperficie curva dall´ azzurro" (1966) peaked at €204,300.
Further world records were attained for works by Rodolfo Aricò and Emilio Scanavino. Other Italian artists whose works were among the auction's highlights were Guiseppe Uncini, Pier Paolo Calzolari, Guiseppe Capogrossi, and Dadamaino.
German artists, including Günther Uecker, Gerhard Richter and Ludwig Wilding, continued their winning streak.
Austrian art featured prominently with Maria Lassnig: one of her works was sold for €137,200, a record price for a small-format oil painting by the artist.
