JAPAN ART EXPO: Japanese Swords, Art & Culture – June 2023Sotheby’s Successful NFT Auction of ‘MetaSkull’ Collection Brought Over $665K for Famed Contemporary Artist Jacky Tsai$133 Million in Loans: Exclusive Interview with an Art Banker, Thomas González – Part 2Amref Honors Artist Kehinde Wiley with The Rees Visionary Award at ArtBall 2024
Jodi the Nanotyrannus Sells for US$47.3 Million at Sotheby’sQianlong Emperor’s Jewel-Encrusted Gold Ewer Sells for US$7.11 Million at Christie’sHockney’s €282,200 Print Leads Warhol and Banksy in €1.06 Million Bonhams SaleMV Agusta Sells for $1.3 Million, Setting an Italian Motorcycle Auction RecordEnigma Machine Sells for £203,600 at Bonhams: Inside the 1941 Cipher DeviceUzo Egonu’s Will Knowledge Safeguard Freedom I Sets Auction Record at £198,900Yusuf Grillo’s One Man Band Sets Artist Auction Record at £461,300Ben Enwonwu’s Anyanwu Sells for £602,100, Setting a Sculpture Record at BonhamsRare Gandhi Portrait Achieves £152,800, Tripling Its EstimateBanksy’s British Cool Mickey Snake Triumphs at Bonhams, Selling for £330,600Whistler’s First Portrait Commission Sells for Five Times Estimate, Fetching $495,000Bridget Riley Stuns Art World as Myrrh Soars to $2.36M at BonhamsReception in the Harem: Discovered Masterpiece by John Frederick Lewis Shatters Expectations, Selling for Almost $1.5 MillionRare Qianlong 'Dragon' Vase Stuns at Auction, Sells for $3.7 Million—Over Six Times Its EstimateRenowned Vietnamese Artist Nguyen Gia Tri’s War Painting Fetches Over $500,000 at Bonhams

Belgian Art

Surreal Nudes: Paul Delvaux’s Masterpiece L’Orage Sells for $1.6 Million

By on • ( 2 Comments )
Detail of Paul Delvaux’s L’Orage, showing a seated nude woman smelling a flower beside red drapery.

Paul Delvaux’s enigmatic nude masterpiece L’Orage (The Storm)—a haunting tableau of mysterious nudes set against a dramatic thunderstorm—painted in August 1962, recently captivated the art world at Bonhams New Bond Street in London, achieving $1.6 million. Explore the secrets behind Delvaux’s fascination with the human form, the mysterious influences of his childhood, and why this 1962 painting continues to mesmerize the global art market.

Magritte’s Masterpiece Sets Surreal World Record, Selling for $121 Million at Christie’s

By on • ( 1 Comment )
Square detail of René Magritte’s L’empire des Lumières, showing a dark house and lamppost beneath a bright sky.

René Magritte’s “L’empire des Lumières” (1954) has shattered records, selling for an astonishing $121.2 million at Christie’s in New York. This iconic surrealist work, renowned for its haunting juxtaposition of a tranquil daylit sky and a shadowy nocturnal streetscape, captivated collectors in a dramatic bidding war. The sale not only surpassed its $95 million pre-sale estimate but also established a new benchmark for the Belgian artist, solidifying his place among the most sought-after figures in modern art. This masterpiece, part of the late Mica Ertegun’s celebrated collection, has been hailed as a quintessential representation of Magritte’s enigmatic brilliance.

Musée d’Arts de Nantes Acquires Jane Graverol’s Painting for Over €71,000

By on • ( 3 Comments )

In a notable display of support for female artists, the Musée d’Arts de Nantes (France) exercised its right under French law to pre-empt the final bids on three paintings at the recent Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr Surrealist Sale in Paris. The museum’s proactive stance in securing these artworks highlights its commitment to promoting gender diversity in the arts and enriching its collection with significant contributions from women artists.