Records Smashed at Christie's Contemporary Art Sale
- June 27, 2012 20:07
In London on Wednesday, post-war and contemporary art totaled $207.3 million, against an estimate of $160.1 million to $216.9 million, the highest total ever in the category for Christie’s in Europe.
Collectors, primarily from Europe and America, clamored for quality. Among the highlights was Yves Klein’s “Le Rose du Bleu (RE 22) which fetched an artist auction record of $36.7 million.
A 1981 Jean-Michel Basquiat, estimated to bring $15.6 million to $23.4 million, went for a record $20.1 million.
Lacking the star lots of Christie's sale, competitor Sotheby's made $108 million the night before.
![Peter Paul Rubens (Flemish, 1577–1640), After Titian (Tiziano Vecelli) (Italian [Venetian], c. 1488–1576), Rape of Europa, 1628–29. Oil on canvas, 71 7/8 x 79 3/8 in.](/images/c/e2/2e/Jan20_Rape_of_Europa100x100_c.jpg "Peter Paul Rubens (Flemish, 1577–1640), After Titian (Tiziano Vecelli) (Italian [Venetian], c. 1488–1576), Rape of Europa, 1628–29. Oil on canvas, 71 7/8 x 79 3/8 in.")
