It is considered to be one of Vladimir Tretchikoffโs great masterpieces and is one of the best-known and most reproduced of his works. Yet for years his Lost Orchid was itself considered lost. Having not been seen in public since it was acquired from the artist in 1955, the painting has finally re-emerged and will now be offered at Bonhamsโ Modern and Contemporary African Art sale on 27 March at New Bond Street, London. It has an estimate of ยฃ150,000 – 200,000.
In a riveting conclusion to a three-week trial, a federal jury ruled in favor of Sotheby’s on Tuesday, dispelling the accusations of Russian billionaire oligarch Dmitry Rybolovlev, who claimed the prestigious auction house defrauded him of tens of millions of dollars in art sales. The drama unfolded as Rybolovlev accused Sotheby’s of conspiring with Swiss art dealer Yves Bouvier to inflate prices for four significant works, including the famed “Salvator Mundi” attributed to Leonardo da Vinci.
In the ever-evolving landscape of digital art, the ascent of Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) marks a groundbreaking odyssey that has reshaped how we create, perceive, and value art in the digital realm. This chronicle traces the pivotal points, important events, and the trailblazers who have propelled NFTs from obscurity to center stage, ushering in a new era in the art world.
In a high-stakes legal showdown gripping the art world, Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev accuses renowned auction house Sotheby’s of orchestrating an elaborate art scam that cost him millions. The trial, underway in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, has thrust the secretive dealings of the art industry into the spotlight. Rybolovlev, with a net worth of $11.5 billion, made headlines as he pursued legal action against Sotheby’s, alleging collusion with Swiss art dealer Yves Bouvier to inflate prices on four rare artworks, including the iconic “Salvator Mundi” attributed to Leonardo da Vinci.
In a dazzling spectacle of high-stakes bidding, the illustrious collection of the late Dutch connoisseur-collector Cornelis Paulus van Pauwvliet took center stage at Bonhams New Bond Street on Tuesday, November 21. The auction, a crescendo of anticipation, saw a remarkable total of ยฃ2.86 million change hands as passionate art enthusiasts vied for a piece of cultural history.
In a groundbreaking Christie’s auction on November 9, 2023, Richard Diebenkorn’s seminal artwork, “Recollections of a Visit to Leningrad,” achieved a record-setting price of $46,410,000 US. Painted in 1965, this monumental canvas, measuring 181.3 x 211.1 cm, stands as a testament to Diebenkorn’s transformative encounter with the works of Henri Matisse during a rare trip to the Soviet Union in the 1960s. Diebenkorn’s journey to the Soviet Union was part of a cultural exchange initiated by President John F. Kennedy and Premier Nikita Khrushchev. During his visit, the artist immersed himself in Matisse’s masterpieces, particularly those housed in the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts in Moscow and the State Hermitage Museum in Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg). This experience had a profound impact on Diebenkorn, inspiring a shift in his artistic approach towards abstracted planes of rich and vibrant color.
In a groundbreaking auction at Christie’s on November 9, 2023, Claude Monet’s masterpiece, “Le bassin aux nymphรฉas,” achieved a record-setting sale of USD 74,010,000. The iconic painting, dating from 1917-1919 and measuring 100.1 x 200.6 cm, surpassed all expectations, becoming one of the most expensive Monet artworks ever sold. Widely celebrated as a landmark of late Impressionism, “Le bassin aux nymphรฉas” captures the essence of Monet’s famed gardens at Giverny. The large-scale canvas showcases the artist’s signature play of impasto and vibrant brushwork, offering a mesmerizing portrayal of the flowing planes of flowers and the expansive lily pond.
A magnificent and extremely rare Islamic Mecca-centred world map, a masterpiece from Safavid Persia, sold for ยฃ1.86 million at Bonhams Islamic and Indian Art Sale today (Tuesday 14 November). It had an estimate of ยฃ1,500,000-2,000,000. The map, formerly on display at the Harvard Museum of Art, and dating from the last quarter of the 17th century, is the finest and most complete Mecca-centred world map of only three surviving examples (the other two were discovered in 1989 and 1995) and is the most important Islamic scientific instrument ever offered at auction.
A selection of 15 exceptional ceramics by Hans Coper, Lucie Rie, Jennifer Lee, Ewen Henderson, Colin Pearson, Duncan Ross and Walter Keeler from a private French collection will be offered at Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr in Paris on Wednesday 6 December 2023. Hans Coper (1920-1981) was a leading figure in the field of studio pottery โ the production of unique ceramic wares made by individual artist-potters in small batches. Together with Lucie Rie (1902-1995), he was instrumental in revolutionising British ceramics, adopting a style which was increasingly sculptural.
Following the success of the first CoBrA sale last year in Copenhagen, where several records were set, notably for Corneille and Stephen Gilbert, the Danish auction house Bruun Rasmussen, part of the Bonhams network, presents a new CoBrA sale on 5 December at its new premises in Lyngby. A touring exhibition featuring a selection of paintings will begin in Amsterdam from 14 to 15 November, then travel to Brussels from 17 to 19 November at Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr, before concluding in Copenhagen with the auction on 5 December. An online sale will take place from 29 November to 12 December.
