MATISSE AUCTION RECORD IN LIVELY KICKOFF TO FALL AUCTION SEASON

A Matisse painting depicting one of the artist’s favorite models fetched $33.6 million last night at Christie’s, breaking the previous auction record for the artist in a lively kickoff to the fall auction season, reports Carol Vogel for the New York Times. The work, L’Odalisque, harmonie bleue, 1937, was purchased by an unidentified buyer who relayed his bids by telephone to Guy Bennett, the head of the Impressionist and modern art department at Christie’s. The previous auction record for a Matisse was $21.7 million. A dreamy 1889 landscape by Paul Signac also broke an auction record tonight, going to an unidentified bidder for $14 million. The previous auction record for a Signac was $11.6 million.

UPDATE, 8:05 AM EST: Articles published overnight reveal additional details about the sale. From Carol Vogel: “Of the 91 lots up for sale, only 17 did not find buyers. The overall sales totaled $394.9 million, above the low $348.6 million estimate but well below the $487.4 million high.” From Marion Menaker in the New York Sun: “The best works of the evening had no trouble attracting strong bids. Matisse, Picasso, Signac, and Giacometti sold well. World records were set for works by Pisarro, Jean Metzinger, and Otto Dix. Two paintings by Modigliani soared above their presale estimates, this despite last season’s weak showing for the artist. Picasso’s Tête de Femme (Dora Maar) sold for more than double the presale estimate, showing that buyers were attuned to high-quality works with conservative estimates.”