The cold and dreary month of February didn’t produce a whole lot of sparks in the world of art auctions, but there were some significant sales around the world.
Pablo Picasso dominated the market with three of the most expensive 15 lots sold last month, including the 1958 portrait Femme dans un rocking-chair (Jacqueline), which fetched a respectable £16.9 million ($20.4 million), within its presale estimate of £15 million to £20 million ($18 to $24 million) at Christie’s London.
Below, see the full list of the top 15 most expensive lots sold at auction around the world in February 2023.
1. Pablo Picasso, Femme dans un rocking-chair (Jacqueline) (1958)
Pablo Picasso, Femme dans un rocking-chair (Jacqueline) (1958). Courtesy of Christie’s Images, Ltd.
Estimate: £15 million to £20 million ($18 to $24 million)
Final Price: £16.9 million ($20.4 million)
Where & When: Christie’s London, February 28, 2023
2. Paul Cézanne, L’Aqueduc du canal de Verdon au nord d’Aix (1882–83)
Paul Cézanne, L’Aqueduc du canal de Verdon au nord d’Aix (1882–83). Courtesy of Christie’s Images, Ltd.
Estimate: £6 million to 9 million ($7.3 to $11 million)
Final Price: £7.2 million ($8.7 million)
Where & When: Christie’s London, February 28, 2023
3. Qing court painters’ joint painting, longevity intention book, album (twelve openings)
Qing court painters’ joint painting, longevity intention book, album (twelve openings) . Courtesy of Poly International Auction Co., Ltd.
Estimate: CNY45 million to 60 million ($6.5 million to $8.7 million)
Final Price: CNY51.7 million ($7.5 million)
Where & When: Poly International Auction Co., Ltd., February 23, 2023
4. René Magritte, Le retour (ca. 1950)
René Magritte, Le retour (ca. 1950). Courtesy of Christie’s Images, Ltd.
Estimate: £4 million to £6 million ($4.8 million to $7.2 million)
Final Price: £6.1 million ($7.41 million)
Where & When: Christie’s London, February 28, 2023
5. Tang Yin, Songgang Scroll, Hand Scroll
Tang Yin, Songgang Scroll, Hand Scroll. Courtesy of Poly International Auction Co., Ltd.
Estimate: CNY35 million to 50 million ($5 million to $7 million)
Final Price: CNY51.2 million ($7.4 million)
Where & When: Poly International Auction Co., Ltd., February 23, 2023
6. Zhang Jizhi, Essay on the Book Mirror Heart
Zhang Jizhi, Essay on the Book Mirror Heart. Courtesy of Poly International Auction Co., Ltd.
Estimate: CNY18 million to 28 million ($2.6 million to $4 million)
Final Price: CNY48.9 million ($7.1 million)
Where & When: Poly International Auction Co., Ltd., February 23, 2023
7. Wu Guanzhong, Lijiang Xin (1975)
Wu Guanzhong, Lijiang Xin (1975). Courtesy of Poly International Auction Co., Ltd.
Estimate: CNY40 million to 60 million ($5.8 million to $8.7 million)
Final Price: CNY48.3 million ($7.1 million)
Where & When: Poly International Auction Co., Ltd., February 21, 2023
8. Liu Haisu, Huang Yue Xiongzi Jingxin (1983)
Liu Haisu, Huang Yue Xiongzi Jingxin (1983). Courtesy of Beijing Inzone International Auction Co., Ltd.
Estimate: CNY6 million to 8 million ($872,461 to $1.2 million)
Final Price: CNY46.8 million ($6.8 million)
Where & When: Beijing Inzone International Auction Co., Ltd., February 21, 2023
9. René Magritte, Souvenir de voyage (1958)
René Magritte, Souvenir de voyage (1958). Courtesy of Christie’s Images, Ltd.
Estimate: £2.5 million to £3.5 million ($3 million to $4.2 million)
Final Price: £5.6 million ($6.7 million)
Where & When: Christie’s London, February 28, 2023
10. Pablo Picasso, Mousquetaire I (Espagnol du XVllème siècle) (1967)
Pablo Picasso, Mousquetaire I (Espagnol du XVllème siècle) (1967). Courtesy of Christie’s Images, Ltd.
Estimate: £4.5 million to 6.5 million ($5.4 to $7.8 million)
Final Price: £5.44 million ($6.6 million)
Where & When: Christie’s London, February 28, 2023
11. Pablo Picasso, Femme assise dans un fauteuil tressé, en gris (Françoise) (1953)
Pablo Picasso, Femme assise dans un fauteuil tressé, en gris (Françoise) (1953). Courtesy of Christie’s Images, Ltd.
Estimate: £6 million to £9 million ($7.2 million to $10.8 million)
Final Price: £5.33 million ($6.4 million)
Where & When: Christie’s London, February 28, 2023
12. Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Jeune fille endormie (La dormeuse) (ca. 1880)
Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Jeune fille endormie (La dormeuse) (ca. 1880). Courtesy of Christie’s Images, Ltd.
Estimate: £2 million to £3 million ($2.4 million to $3.6 million)
Final Price: £4.96 million ($6 million)
Where & When: Christie’s London, February 28, 2023
13. Vincent van Gogh, Kop van een vrouw (Gordina de Groot) (Head of a Woman [Gordina de Groot])
![Vincent van Gogh, <i>Kop van een vrouw (Gordina de Groot) (Head of a Woman [Gordina de Groot])</i> (1885). Courtesy of Christie's Images, Ltd.](https://news.artnet.com/app/news-upload/2023/03/2023_CKS_21609_0027_001vincent_van_gogh_kop_van_een_vrouw013606-893x1024.jpg)
Vincent van Gogh, Kop van een vrouw (Gordina de Groot) (Head of a Woman [Gordina de Groot]) (1885). Courtesy of Christie’s Images, Ltd.
Final Price: £4.8 million ($5.9 million)
Where & When: Christie’s London, February 28, 2023
14. Zhang Daqian, Viewing Clouds on Huashan Mountain (1936)
Zhang Daqian, Viewing Clouds on Huashan Mountain (1936). Courtesy of Beijing Inzone International Auction Co., Ltd.
Estimate: CNY6 million to 8 million ($8.7 million to $11.6 million)
Final Price: CNY40 million ($5.8 million)
Where & When: Beijing Inzone International Auction Co., Ltd., February 21, 2023
15. Qi Baishi, Jiahui Workworm Book, Mirror Heart
Qi Baishi, Jiahui Workworm Book, Mirror Heart. Courtesy of Beijing Poly International Auction Co. Ltd.
Estimate: CNY18 million to 22 million ($872,461 to $1.2 million)
Final Price: CNY40.02 million ($5.8 million)
Where & When: Poly International Auction Co., Ltd., February 22, 2023