The Most Expensive Gold Antique in the World – $35 Million Persian NecklaceModigliani’s Female Nudes and Their Record-Breaking PricesCelebrated Nigerian artist Amarachi Okafor highlights Ecological DisasterWho is Roman Goncharenko: Surreal Digital Artist of Fantasy and Adventure
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

Paintings

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

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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.

Christian Parisot Unveils Volume VI of Modigliani’s Biography and Catalogue Raisonné

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Cropped cover of Christian Parisot’s Modigliani biography, showing its title and a black-and-white portrait.

Christian Parisot’s “Modigliani – Biographie / Catalogue Raisonné,” Volume VI represents the culmination of decades of meticulous research into the life and work of Amedeo Modigliani. Presented at Palazzo Graziani in San Marino, this 415-page publication not only offers an exhaustive account of Modigliani’s artistic journey but also provides invaluable insights through newly uncovered works and rigorous authenticity analyses. With contributions from renowned scholars and a seamless blend of narrative and archival precision, Parisot’s latest volume stands as an essential resource for both art historians and enthusiasts, solidifying Modigliani’s legacy through a modern lens of scholarship.

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.

Obscure Artist Stuns Auctioneers: Leonardo Guzzardi’s Portrait of Lord Nelson Sells 15 Times Estimate

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Detail of Admiral Lord Nelson in naval uniform with a red sash, from Leonardo Guzzardi’s portrait.

In a stunning turn of events, a rare portrait of Admiral Lord Nelson by the little-known Italian artist Leonardo Guzzardi sold for £94,380 ($120,000) at Bonhams’ Old Master Paintings auction in London, shattering its modest pre-sale estimate of £6,000–£8,000 ($7600–$10,200). The 1799 full-length depiction of Nelson in naval dress, set against a dramatic maritime backdrop, captivated bidders and underscored a growing appetite for rediscovered works by overlooked artists. Guzzardi, a relatively obscure figure believed to have worked for the Neapolitan Court, has gained renewed attention for his raw, realistic portrayals of the famed British naval hero, marking this sale as both a market surprise and a testament to the timeless allure of historical portraiture.

Who is Anna Teresa Laurita: Feminine Neo-Expressionism

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Detail of Anna Teresa Laurita’s La Zingara Felice, with a stylized face and vivid strokes of pink, green and orange.

Anna Teresa Laurita is an emerging figure in contemporary neo-expressionism, bringing a distinct perspective to a genre historically dominated by male artists, such as the legendary Jean-Michel Basquiat. Laurita’s art is marked by the use of vivid, contrasting colors and an approach that emphasizes emotional depth and personal experience. This focus allows her work to balance the expressive freedom characteristic of neo-expressionism with a unique infusion of femininity and introspection.

African Artists Show Strong Results at Auction: William Kentridge Smashes Estimate

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Detail of Ben Enwonwu’s FESTAC ’77, showing a figure in profile in blue, green and yellow.

A recent auction at Bonhams in London showcased the dynamic and rising value of Modern and Contemporary African Art, concluding with total sales of £2,439,400 (approximately $2,976,068). The event featured prominent works, including William Kentridge’s Monument I, which soared past expectations, selling for £483,000 (about $589,260) against its estimate of £200,000–£300,000. Kentridge’s evocative charcoal piece, rooted in his Drawings for Projection series, epitomizes his narrative-driven approach that intertwines historical introspection with striking visual artistry. Irma Stern’s Zululand and significant pieces by Ben Enwonwu and Marlene Dumas further emphasized the auction’s success, underscoring the burgeoning global recognition and deepening collector interest in African art’s profound heritage and contemporary vibrancy.

Pollock, Basquiat, Warhol, Twombly Headline Monumental Phillips Auction

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Composite of a Pollock drip painting with details from Basquiat’s and Warhol’s self-portraits.

Phillips is set to command the art world’s attention with its upcoming November Evening Sale of Modern & Contemporary Art in New York. The highly anticipated event, scheduled for November 19 at their prestigious 432 Park Avenue location, will present 33 carefully curated works that bridge the gap between celebrated modern masters and contemporary visionaries. The sale is headlined by Jackson Pollock’s Untitled, circa 1948, a landmark piece from his groundbreaking drip painting period, and features rare double self-portraits by both Jean-Michel Basquiat and Andy Warhol, offered together for the first time at auction. Additional highlights include Cy Twombly’s mythologically charged Crimes of Passion I and a striking array of works by Pablo Picasso and Joan Miró, making this event a must-see for collectors and art enthusiasts worldwide.

‘A Scout is Loyal’ and Worth $5 Million! Norman Rockwell’s Patriotic Masterpiece Set for Auction

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Detail of Norman Rockwell’s A Scout is Loyal (1940), showing a Boy Scout with an American flag, a bald eagle and portraits of Lincoln and Washington.

Norman Rockwell’s ‘A Scout is Loyal’, a stirring portrayal of American patriotism, is poised to be the highlight of Bonhams’ American Art sale on November 20. Painted in 1940 during the artist’s most significant period amidst World War II, this masterpiece embodies Rockwell’s talent for capturing the national spirit. Featuring a Boy Scout surrounded by powerful American symbols—including the flag, a bald eagle, and historic figures such as Presidents Abraham Lincoln and George Washington holding the Bill of Rights—the painting is valued at $3 million to $5 million. It serves as a poignant reminder of unity and resilience during times of challenge.

What Most People Don’t Know About Van Gogh

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Close-up of a painted red-bearded man, with a blue and pink horizontal band across his eyes.

When people think of Vincent van Gogh, they often imagine the iconic Starry Night, fields of sunflowers, or the tormented artist who famously cut off his ear. Yet, beyond the familiar images and myths lies a complex individual with a life and career filled with surprising, lesser-known details. Did you know Van Gogh only sold one painting in his lifetime, or that he dreamed of becoming a pastor before turning to art? From his fascination with Japanese prints to the ongoing mystery surrounding his death, there’s much more to Van Gogh than the legend suggests. Here, we explore the hidden facets of one of history’s most influential artists.

Sandro Botticelli: The Renaissance Visionary Who Painted the Soul

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Detail of Botticelli’s Venus and Mars showing a reclining man, a shell held near his head and a small figure beside armor.

Sandro Botticelli, widely regarded as a master of the Italian Renaissance, has been described as the “Dante of painting,” a comparison made by art historian Annalisa Di Maria. Just as Dante Alighieri captured the complexity of human emotions in his poetry, Botticelli conveyed spiritual depth and intellectual ideas through his artwork. Central to his artistic philosophy was the Neoplatonic school, a 15th-century intellectual movement in Florence that deeply influenced his thought. This school, rooted in ancient philosophy, played a critical role in shaping the cultural landscape of Florence during that time.