Picasso, Notre Dame de Paris. (Click on image to enlarge).
Modigliani, Jeune fille aux cheveux noirs. (Click on image to enlarge).
Paintings by Picasso, Modigliani, Renoir and Chagall were among the top lots at Bonhams on February 7. A 1954 landscape ‘Notre Dame de Paris’ by Picasso made £864,450. It shows the influence of earlier experiments with Cubism. When it was completed the artist was falling in love with a woman who would later become his wife – Jacqueline Roque. His happiness is evident.
Modigliani’s `Jeune fille aux cheveux noirs’ made £825,250. Renoir’s Femme en rouge lisant, painted in 1895 made £97,250 and La musique au village by Marc Chagall (1887-1995) made £73,250. Bonhams Impressionist & Modern Art auction brought in £2,657,700, drew interest from around the world and was 81 per cent sold by value.