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Maurice Leloir’s Four Historical Scenes Sell for €128,600 at BonhamsJacob Jordaens’s Portrait of His Wife Sells for €154,200 at BonhamsRenaissance Portrait Attributed to Conrad Faber Sells for €295,000 at BonhamsJodi 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 Bonhams

Christie's

Coverage of Christie’s auctions and their place in the art market, from paintings and American antiques to jewellery. Reports examine notable lots, published sale results and the collecting stories behind works by artists including Monet, Magritte and Diebenkorn.

Why Demand for Renaissance Art Remains Strong: Money, Mystery and the Power of Rediscovery

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Editorial illustration of Leonardo da Vinci’s portrait beside a jeweled cup, bronze equestrian sculpture, manuscript and auction gavel.

Renaissance art continues to attract extraordinary spending, from Leonardo’s US$450.3 million Salvator Mundi to major Botticelli and Raphael sales. Drawing on WAN’s reporting, Albert Chen explores the money, discoveries, restoration debates and cultural fascination behind the market. The story reaches beyond auction records to explain why these centuries-old works still hold collectors and audiences in their grip.

Stunning Discovery: Van Dyck’s Only Surviving Landscape Found and Sold for Over $4 Million

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Detail of trees, exposed roots and water in the landscape on the reverse of Van Dyck’s Andalusian Horse.

Hidden for centuries and only recently unveiled, a secret masterpiece by Sir Anthony van Dyck has taken the art world by storm. On the reverse of his grand depiction of an Andalusian Horse lies the only surviving landscape in oil ever painted by the legendary Baroque artist. This serene study of a tree-covered slope and a dog drinking at a lake was discovered during restoration, concealed beneath a later relining canvas. The revelation has been hailed as a transformative moment for understanding van Dyck’s early career and his passion for nature. This dual-sided treasure sold at Christie’s for over $4 million, far exceeding expectations and captivating collectors and scholars alike. The discovery sheds new light on van Dyck’s genius, linking the landscape to other key works and proving that his talent extended far beyond portraiture. Explore the remarkable story behind this once-in-a-lifetime find and its journey to the auction block.

Francesco Hayez’s ‘Bathsheba’ Painting Sets Record with $1.8 Million Sale at Christie’s

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Detail of Francesco Hayez’s Bathsheba, showing her headscarf, bare shoulder and gold armlet.

A masterpiece by the celebrated 19th-century Italian painter Francesco Hayez has shattered expectations at Christie’s Old Masters Evening Sale in London, setting a new world auction record for the artist. Bathsheba, an evocative oil painting dating back to 1827, sold for an astonishing $1,893,348, nearly doubling its pre-sale estimate! Bathsheba is hailed not only for its technical brilliance but also for its storied provenance. The painting was first acquired directly from Hayez by King William I of Württemberg at Milan’s Brera Academy. According to Hayez’s memoirs, the king, captivated by the painting’s beauty and mastery, paid the artist’s full asking price on the spot.

Surrealist Art Market Shows Strong Momentum with Record Sales and High Demand

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The surrealist art market is currently experiencing a notable period of growth, evidenced by strong auction results and heightened collector interest. Recent sales in New York, Paris, and London reflect a robust appetite for works from this historically significant movement. René Magritte’s L’empire des Lumières (1954) led the market in 2024, achieving $121.16 million at Christie’s New York—the highest price ever paid for a surrealist artwork. This sale underscores a broader trend of sustained demand for surrealist pieces, both from marquee names and historically underrepresented artists.

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

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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.

Rothko’s Most Expensive Painting “No. 6 (Violet, Green and Red)” Sold Again!

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Composite of Mark Rothko’s portrait and No. 6 (Violet, Green and Red).

One of the most notable sales in the art world occurred in 2014 when Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev purchased Rothko’s renowned 1951 masterpiece, “No. 6 (Violet, Green and Red),” from Swiss art dealer Yves Bouvier for a staggering $186 million. While this record-breaking sale brought significant media attention, it also entangled the artwork in the notorious Bouvier Affair, a scandal that reverberated throughout the art world shortly after.

American Antiques Smash Records at Christie’s Totaling $9.3M – Joshua Johnson’s Art Sets World Record

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Portrait of George Washington by Rembrandt Peale.

Christie’s annual auction of Important Americana in New York has exceeded all expectations, totaling an impressive $9,294,784. This figure marks a significant milestone, more than doubling last year’s total, and surpassing the low estimate by a striking 122%. With 80% of lots sold, the auction showcased the robust demand for Americana collectibles. Notably, over 25% of buyers and bidders were new to the category at Christie’s, indicating a growing interest in this niche market.

Christie’s Sells 3.5 Carat Blue Diamond Ring for $5.5 Million

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3.49-carat fancy vivid blue cushion-cut diamond ring sold for $5,495,000 at Christie’s.

On December 6th, Christie’s Rockefeller Center in Manhattan witnessed an extravagant showcase of luxury as the Magnificent Jewels auction unfolded. This event saw fervent bidding both in-person and over the phones, culminating in a remarkable total of $38,135,080. Impressively, 90% of the 152 lots available found buyers. The auction presented an exquisite collection of rare diamonds, significant colored stones, and distinguished jewels from renowned collections.