A painting by the Belgian surrealist painter René Magritte, a version of “The Empire of Lights”, was sold for a record amount of 121.16 million dollars (107 million francs), during an auction in New York Tuesday evening.
“It’s a world record for an auction of a painting by René Magritte,” Charly Herscovici, president of the Magritte Foundation, confirmed to Belga just after the sale.
This version of René Magritte’s “The Empire of Lights” was on offer Tuesday evening at the Rockefeller Center, the New York headquarters of the Christie’s auction house. This oil on canvas is part of a series of 18 other eponymous paintings presenting a house and its street lamp while playing with shadow and light.
The most expensive Magritte in the world
“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 (93 million dw francs) under the gavel, but the final price is 121 million dollars (107 million francs) 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 estimated at around 95 million dollars (84 million francs) previously.
The buyer is an American collector, whose identity has not been revealed, who fought over the work with another prospective Asian buyer, Mr. Herscovici further specifies.
“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 in 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 (8.9 million francs) and “La Mémoire” (1945) was sold for 3.68 million dollars (3, 25 million francs).
These are prices that were “discounted”, according to Mr. Herscovici, while these sales remained within the estimate range.
This article was automatically published. Sources: ats / afp
