It goes without saying that the biggest event in the art market this year was the blockbuster auction of the late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen’s art collection. It exceeded expectations, raking in a staggering $1.5 billion, the highest total ever achieved in a single auction. It was, frankly, an unprecedented bonanza.
“There’s never been an auction with so many eight- and nine-figure lots,” wrote Artnet News’s Katya Kazakina. “Of the 60 works on offer (one, a Magritte, was withdrawn ahead of the sale), five sold for more than $100 million each. An eye-popping 15 more sold for over $20 million each.”
Other lots that made the cut this month included Andy Warhol’s 1963 White Disaster (White Car Crash 19 Times), which brought in $85 million, surpassing its presale estimate of $80 million, and becoming the second most expensive work from the artist’s infamous “Death and Disaster” series. Piet Mondrian’s Composition No. II, and Pablo Picasso’s Guitare sur une table were the top lots at Sotheby’s November 14 sale.
Below, see the full list of the top 15 most expensive artworks sold at auction last month.
1. Georges Seurat, Les Poseuses, Ensemble (Petite version) (1888)
Georges Seurat, Les Poseuses, Ensemble (Petite version) (1888). Image courtesy Christie’s.
Estimate: In excess of $100 million
Final Price: $149.2 million
Where & When: Christie’s New York, November 9, 2022
2. Paul Cézanne, La Montagne Sainte-Victoire
Paul Cezanne, La Montagne Sainte-Victoire (ca. 1888-1890). Courtesy of Christie’s Images, Ltd.
Estimate: $120 million
Final Price: $137.7 million
Where & When: Christie’s New York, November 9, 2022
3. Vincent van Gogh, Verger avec cyprès (1888)
Vincent van Gogh, Verger avec cyprès (1888). Courtesy of Christie’s Images, Ltd.
Estimate: In excess of $100 million
Final Price: $117 million
Where & When: Christie’s New York, November 9, 2022
4. Paul Gauguin, Maternité II (1899)
Paul Gauguin, Maternité II (1899). Courtesy of Christie’s Images, Ltd.
Estimate: In excess of $90 million
Final Price: $105.7 million
Where & When: Christie’s New York, November 9, 2022
5. Gustav Klimt, Birch Forest (1903)
Gustav Klimt, Birch Forest (1903). Courtesy of Christie’s Images, Ltd.
Estimate: In excess of $90 million
Final Price: $104.5 million
Where & When: Christie’s New York, November 9, 2022
6. Lucian Freud, Large Interior, W11 (after Watteau) (1981-83)
Lucian Freud, Large Interior, W11 (after Watteau). Estimate on request
Estimate: In excess of $75 million
Final Price: $86 million
Where & When: Christie’s New York, November 9, 2022
7. Andy Warhol, White Disaster [White Car Crash 19 Times] (1963)
Andy Warhol, White Disaster (White Car Crash 19 Times) (1963). Courtesy of Sotheby’s.
Estimate: $80 million
Final Price: $85 million
Where & When: Sotheby’s New York, November 16, 2022
8. Claude Monet, Waterloo Bridge, soleil voilé (1899-1903)
Claude Monet, Waterloo Bridge, soleil voilé (1899-1903). Courtesy of Christie’s Images, Ltd.
Estimate: Undisclosed
Final Price: $64.5 million
Where & When: Christie’s New York, November 9, 2022
9. Jasper Johns, Small False Start (1960)
Jasper Johns, Small False Start (1960). Courtesy of Christie’s Images, Ltd.
Estimate: $45 million to $65 million
Final Price: $55 million
Where & When: Christie’s New York, November 9, 2022
10. Édouard Manet, Le Grand Canal à Venise (1874)
Édouard Manet, Le Grand Canal à Venise (1874). Courtesy of Christie’s Images, Ltd.
Estimate: $45 million to $65 million
Final Price: $51.9 million
Where & When: Christie’s New York, November 9, 2022
11. Piet Mondrian, Composition No. II (1930)
Piet Mondrian, Composition No. II (1930). Courtesy of Sotheby’s.
Estimate: Undisclosed
Final Price: $51 million
Where & When: Sotheby’s New York, November 14, 2022
12. Sandro Botticelli, Madonna of the Magnificat
Sandro Botticelli, ‘Madonna of the Magnificat,’ from Paul G. Allen’s collection. Courtesy of Christie’s.
Estimate: In excess of $40 million
Final Price: $48 million
Where & When: Christie’s New York, November 9, 2022
13. Cy Twombly, Untitled (2005)
Cy Twombly, Untitled (2005). Courtesy of Phillips.
Estimate: $35 million to $45 million
Final Price: $41.6 million
Where & When: Phillips New York, November 15, 2022
14. Paul Signac, Concarneau, calme du matin (Opus no. 219, larghetto) (1891)
Paul Signac, Concarneau, calme du matin (Opus no. 219, larghetto) (1891). Courtesy of Christie’s Images, Ltd.
Estimate: $28 million to $35 million
Final Price: $39 million
Where & When: Christie’s New York, November 9, 2022
15. Pablo Picasso, Guitare sur une table (1919)
Pablo Picasso, Guitare sur une table (1919). Courtesy of Sotheby’s.
Estimate: Undisclosed
Final Price: $37 million
Where & When: Sotheby’s New York, November 14, 2022
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