Rare Work by Polish Painter Fetches Over $1 Million at NYC Auction Sparking a fierce bidding war, a rare work by Polish artist Henryk Siemiradzki brought in more than ten times its top estimate of $100,000, with an outstanding final price of $1,078,000.
International collector attention was focused on the April 21st sale of European Paintings presented at the New York galleries of international auctioneers Bonhams. Offering over 200 lots, the well rounded sale - which included Old Masters and 19th Century works by artists from the French, German, Scandinavian, Dutch, Italian and British Schools - lured an international pool of bidders and several first-time registrants.
Clearly causing the most excitement of the day was a rare work by Polish artist Henryk Siemiradzki titled The Patrician’s Siesta. Known for his scenes of Classical antiquity, the work perfectly exemplifies the artist’s forte, picturing a Roman patrician relaxing on the sun-drenched veranda of his villa. Sparking a fierce bidding war, the lot brought in more than ten times its top estimate of $100,000, with the outstanding final price of $1,078,000.
Adding to the painting’s excellent performance is the fact that the proceeds of its sale are to be donated to the Contra Costa Hospice of Concord in California.
Bidders were also thrilled by the offering of an exquisite portrait by Elisabeth Vigée le Brun, considered one of 18th Century France’s most famous female artists. Fresh to market, the lovely pastel features Corisande de Gramont, also known as the Countess of Tankerville. Coming directly from the 10th Earl of Tankerville, the work’s impeccable provenance led it to dramatically surpass expectations, fetching $122,000 against a top estimate of $20,000.
Continuing a pattern of great performances was another work by a French artist, Auguste Borget.
Depicting a view of junks on China’s famous Pearl River, the work nearly doubled its presale estimate of $30,000, bringing in $57,950.
Works by Italian painters also lured bidders. A wooded landscape with figures by Paolo Anesi outperformed drawing $46, 360 against a top estimate of $30,000. A pair of exquisite paintings by Mario Nuzzi brought a final price of $45,750. Also exceeding expectations was a drawing by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo titled Time and Truth, which fetched $33,550- nearly double its top estimate of $18,000.
Performing quite nicely amongst German paintings was The Bedtime Story by Carl Wilhelm Friedrich Bauerle, which drew $36,600 at the close of bidding.
“We’re quite pleased with the competitive bidding inspired by the sale,” stated European Paintings Director Mark Fisher. “It’s obviously good to see such strong interest in the face of the current economic climate.”
The illustrated auction catalog for the sale will be online at www.bonhams.com/us and available for purchase in the weeks following the auction. For more information on European Paintings sales at Bonhams, please visit: www.bonhams.com/europaintings.
