Record Amounts Paid for Works of Art at Christie’s Auctions

The proceeds of The Collection of Peggy and David Rockefeller auction significantly superseded experts’ estimates and almost doubled the highest amount previously paid for a private art collection. The former record was held by the collection of Yves Saint Laurent and his partner Pierre Bergé which was sold for $443 million in total. The main work of art sold as part of the Rockefeller collection, Pablo Picasso’s early painting Fillette à la corbeille fleurie cost its new owner $115 million. The famous Odalisque couchée aux magnolias painting was sold for $80.8 million which establishes the highest amount ever paid for a painting by Henri Matisse. In agreement with David Rockefeller’s will, the proceeds of the auction will be divided among dozens of charity projects that were supported by him and his wife.

At the Impressionist & Modern Art Evening Sale, the painting Suprematis Composition by Kazimir Malevich was sold for $86 million and the sculpture La jeune fille sophistiquée (Portrait de Nancy Cunard) by Constantin Brâncuşi was sold for $71 million. In both cases these are record amounts paid for works of these artists.

More information can be found here: Christie's auction house