Impressionist art has continued to reach record prices in February's major auctions at both Christie's and Sotheby's in London.
Dans La Prairie, an oil painting by Claude Monet, sold for more than £11m at Christie's Impressionist and Modern Art Evening Sale. The image of his Monet’s Camille, reading in a field of wild flowers was exhibited at the seminal third Impressionist Exhibition in 1877.
Edgar Degas The Little Dancer (Petite Danseuse de Quatorze Ans) was sold for a record £13.3m at Sotheby's Impressionist & Modern Art sale in London. Originally made from wax circa 1879-81, the sculpture is the only one to be exhibited during the artist's lifetime.
Melanie Clore, co-chairman of impressionist and modern art at Sotheby's Worldwide, said "This is clear evidence that the market continues to respond to quality and rarity."
Giovanna Bertazzoni, Director and Head of Impressionist and Modern Art,Christie’s London said “This evening’s results demonstrate the strength of this long established category of art’.
Image Credits:
Image 1: Lot 19, PROPERTY FROM AN IMPORTANT EUROPEAN COLLECTION, Claude Monet (1840-1926) , Dans la prairie , signed and dated 'Claude Monet 76' (lower right) , oil on canvas , 23 3/4 x 32 1/4 in. (60.3 x 82 cm.) , Painted in 1876 , Estimate on Request (in the region of £15 million) .Sold £11,241,250/$16,164,918/€12,421,581, © CHRISTIE'S IMAGES LTD. 2009
Image 2: LOT 8, PROPERTY OF SIR JOHN MADEJSKI, OBE, DL, EDGAR DEGAS, 1834-1917, PETITE DANSEUSE DE QUATORZE ANS, 9,000,000—12,000,000 GBP, Lot Sold. Hammer Price with Buyer's Premium: 13,257,250 GBP
