By Carter B. Horsley

This day auction of Impressionist and Modern Art at Christie's November 2, 2005 is highlighted by a superb small painting by Max Ernst, two excellent paintings by Frantisek Kupka and fine works by Maurice Denis, Emile Bernard, Wassily Kandinsky and Albert Marquet.

Lot 473, "Tete," is a stunning oil on canvas by Max Ernst (1891-1976) that measures 18 1/8 by 14 7/8 inches. It was at one time in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York which earlier this year held a major exhibition on Ernst. It has a very modest estimate of $60,000 to $90,000. It sold for $114,000 including the buyer's premium as do all results mentioned in this article.

Lot 462 is a strong work by Frantisek Kupka (1871-1957). Entitled "Sourire O," it is an oil on canvas that measures 25 7/8 inches square and was executed in 1933. It was consigned by the Collection of Katharine and Morton G. Schamberg. It has a modest estimate of $80,000 to $100,000. It sold for $240,000.

Another Kupka is Lot 495, which entitled "Prisme." An oil on canvas, it measures 27 5/8 inches square and was painted in 1947. It has an estimate $100,000 to $150,000. It failed to sell.

Lot 459 is a good oil on panel by Wassily Kandinsky (1866-1944) that is being sold by the Sara Lee Foundation and was formerly in the collection of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation in New York and Nathan Cummings of Chicago and New York. An oil on panel, it measures 19 3/4 by 15 5/8 inches and was executed in 1932. It has a modest estimate of $350,000 to $450,000. It sold for $688,000.

Lot 347 is a superb painting by Maurice Denis (1870-1943) that has been consigned by the Museum of Modern Art to benefit its acquisition fund. An oil on canvas that measures 28 3/4 by 39 1/2 inches, it was executed in 1900 and was once in the collection of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur G. Altschul. It has a modest estimate of $300,000 to $400,000. It sold for $665,600.

Lot 304, "Paysannes Bretonnes," is a fine oil on canvas by Emile Bernard (1868-1941) that was painted circa 1889. It measures 21 3/4 by 18 1/4 inches and was consigned by the Collection of Lee V. Eastman. It has an estimate of $400,000 to $600,000. It sold for $486,400.

Lot 301, "Fruits, couteau et serviette," by Albert Marquet (1875-1947) is a 13 1/8-by-18-inch oil on canvas that was painted circa 1898-9. It has an estimate of $100,000 to $150,000. It sold for $216,000.