Francis Bacon’s Study for Head of Isabel Rawsthorne and George Dyer was the top lot at Christie’s post war and contemporary art evening sale in London last night. It made £12,178,500 in an auction that achieved £95,646,500. Bidding was particularly active for collections from the Museum of Old and New Art (£4,630,000) and The Jacobs Collection (£6,993,000). There was enthusiasm for artists including Jean Dubuffet, Richard Hamilton and Morris Louis.
Bidders from 34 countries across three continents competed for works by exciting contemporary artists alongside classics of the category. Records included Chris Ofili’s Holy Virgin Mary (£2,882,500), Malcolm Morley (£1,202,500), R.H Quaytman (£578,500), Jeff Elrod (£218,500), Brent Wadden (£122,500) and The Chapman Brothers (£422,500). Christie’s said the auction showed further evidence of the momentum in market that has been witnessed over a record-breaking season of sales for Christie’s across Europe and the US, with strong results not only in New York but also Amsterdam, Milan and Paris.