A portrait painted by the Austrian Gustav Klimt, which was sold on Tuesday in New York by Sotheby’s for the sum of 204 million euros, became the second most expensive work ever awarded at auction, reports AFP on Wednesday.
The only work sold for a higher amount is “Salvator Mundi”attributed to Leonardo da Vinci, awarded for 450 million dollars (about 380 million euros at that time) in New York in 2017, writes Agerpres, citing the international news agency.
For 20 minutes, six buyers disputed “Portrait of Elisabeth Lederer” (“Bildnis Elisabeth Lederer”, 1914-1916), estimated at $150 million, which represents the daughter of Gustav Klimt’s main patron, in a white Chinese imperial dress, in front of a blue tapestry with Asian-inspired motifs.
The name of the buyer was not disclosed by Sotheby’s.
“Extremely Rare” Portraits
The large standing portraits made by the Austrian painter in his peak period (between 1912 and 1917), such as this painting, are “extremely rare”Sotheby’s explained in a statement.
Most are part of the collections of major museums and very few are owned by private collectors.
Six buyers disputed their work for 20 minutes. PHOTO YouTube capture Kronen Zeitung
The record sale comes as global art auction proceeds are set to drop 33.5% in 2024 to $9.9 billion, the lowest level since 2009, according to Artprice’s annual report released in March.
The reason is, in addition to the difficult economic context, the lack of high-value works.
At the same auction organized on Tuesday in New York, another piece attracted attention: the solid gold toilet bowl by the provocative Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan, sold to a “famous American brand” for the sum of 12.1 million dollars (10.4 million euros), Sotheby’s said in a statement.
A first version of the work, titled “America”, it was stolen in 2019 from a castle in England. Never recovered, the piece was probably melted down for resale. Three men were convicted in this case.
What other works by Gustav Klimt have been auctioned
In the same connection, several other works by Gustav Klimt were awarded, among them “Blumenwiese” (circa 1908), sold for 86 million dollars (74.2 million euros), and “Waldabhang bei Unterach am Attersee” (1916), awarded for 68.3 million dollars (58.9 million euros).
These paintings of rural landscapes, as well as two studies for a portrait, were part of the collection of Leonard A. Lauder, heir to the Estée Lauder cosmetics empire, who died in June at the age of 92.
“A historic event for the art market”
The sale of the 24 lots of this collection generated 527.5 million dollars (455.6 million euros), of which 391.7 million (338.3 million euros) for Gustav Klimt alone.
“A historic event for the art market”appreciated Charles Stewart, general director of Sotheby’s, quoted in a statement.
For the Austrian artist, the previous record had been set by the painting “Dame mit Fächer” (1917-1918), sold for 85.3 million pounds (98.9 million euros, 108.8 million dollars) in London in 2023
