The Post-War and Contemporary sales this week feature works by many of the biggest names of the 20th and 21st centuries, with paintings by British artists leading the line-up.
On 5th March Sothebys are expecting much interest in ‘Head of a Boy’ (1956) by Lucian Freud (1922-2011), an exquisite portrait of Garech Browne. With fine-brush precision and a delicate colour palette the artist beautifully captured the melancholy and contemplative soul of his subject and the work is estimated to sell for £4.5 to £6.5million. Other highlights of the catalogue include Juncture (1994) by Jenny Saville (b.1970), an artist hailed as a ‘destroyer of false fetishes’ by Simon Schama. The monumental work commands our full attention and celebrates the beauty of the fleshy female nude in all its glory. Saville’s works are united by a strong feminist theme, and they are proving ever more popular with collectors. This fine example almost bursts from the canvas; last sold in 2009 for £434,000, it’s estimated to sell for £5 million to 7million this time around.
On 5th March Sothebys are expecting much interest in ‘Head of a Boy’ (1956) by Lucian Freud (1922-2011), an exquisite portrait of Garech Browne. With fine-brush precision and a delicate colour palette the artist beautifully captured the melancholy and contemplative soul of his subject and the work is estimated to sell for £4.5 to £6.5million. Other highlights of the catalogue include Juncture (1994) by Jenny Saville (b.1970), an artist hailed as a ‘destroyer of false fetishes’ by Simon Schama. The monumental work commands our full attention and celebrates the beauty of the fleshy female nude in all its glory. Saville’s works are united by a strong feminist theme, and they are proving ever more popular with collectors. This fine example almost bursts from the canvas; last sold in 2009 for £434,000, it’s estimated to sell for £5 million to 7million this time around.
Following David Hockney’s record moment in New York in November, his majestic ‘Henry Geldzahler and Christopher Scott’ is taking centre stage at Christie’s evening sale on 6th March where it is estimated to sell for in the region of £30 million. One of the most important paintings in the artist’s legendary series of double portraits, it features Henry Geldzahler, Hockney’s closest friend and a legendary curator and critic, with his then-boyfriend Christopher Scott. Geldzahler later said of the work, “It’s a watershed painting. In this picture David finally gave up the idea of being a “modern artist” and decided, instead, to be the best artist he could be.” Other highlights of the sale include ‘Haus der Bilder (House of Pictures)’ by Peter Doig (b.1959) and ‘A B, Tower’ by Gerhard Richter (b.1932), both carrying estimates of £3 to £5 million.
