Last week, Sotheby's Impressionist and Modern art evening sale reached its high-end estimate, totaling $19.3 million. Three pieces by the German Surrealist Max Ernst (1891-1976) drew the biggest bids. Ernst's scene of bizarre battling characters in the oil painting "La Carmagnole," from 1927, drew $3.4 million, exceeding the high estimate by $1 million.

The other Ernst paintings, "Fleurs exotiques" and "La Nature a l'Aurore," drew $1.1 million and $757,000, respectively.

Matta's "The Hanged Man" from 1942, was also greatly anticipated, given its provenance from MoMA. The painting, inspired by Matta's friendship with Marcel Duchamp, exceeded its estimated netting $2.4 million.

Another Surrealist work by Man Ray, "Le Beau Temps," set a record for the artist at $692,750. It was purchased by an anonymous American collector.

(Report: Alisa Alexander for ARTFIXcaily)