The most expensive Magritte
“This is the most expensive Magritte in the world at auction, but other paintings have been sold for even more at private sales,” commented Mr. Herscovici, judging that the result was “terrific.”
The work was acquired for 105 million dollars (99 million euros) under the gavel, but the final price is 121 million dollars (114 million euros) with fees included, according to information communicated by Christie’s . The painting was painted by the Belgian artist in 1954 and measures 146 centimeters by 114 centimeters.
The sale far exceeded expectations, while the painting was previously estimated at around $95 million.
The buyer is an American collector, whose identity has not been revealed, who competed for the work with another potential Asian buyer, Mr. Herscovici further specifies.
Here is the record sum at which a work by Magritte could sell
“This painting up for auction is one of the most beautiful in the series of “The Empire of Lights” in its staging, its quality, in the light and the night,” described Charly Herscovici. It was the “highlight of the show”, according to him, during this sale of several other works from the collection of the late Mica Ertegun, interior designer and art collector.
Two other paintings by the Belgian painter were also sold on this occasion. “La cour d’amour” (1960) reached the price of 10.5 million dollars (9.91 million euros) and “La Mémoire” (1945) was sold for 3.68 million dollars (3 .47 million euros).
These are prices that were “discounted”, according to Mr. Herscovici, while these sales remained within the estimate range.
In a separate lot, bringing together works from the 20th century, a gouache by René Magritte, also entitled “The Empire of Lights” (1956), was also auctioned by Christie’s on Tuesday evening. The work reached the price of 18.8 million dollars (17.74 million euros), which also constitutes another record on the same evening for a gouache by the Belgian surrealist painter.
