Post-War & Contemporary Art evening sale May 13, 2014 at Christie's New York

Post-War and Contemporary Art

Christie's New York

7 PM, May 13, 2014

Sale No: 2847

Roof lifts off Contemporary Art market

Bacon triptych

Lot 20, "Three Studies for a Portrait of John Edwards," by Francis Bacon, oil on canvas in three parts, each 78 18 by 58 1/4 inches, 1984

By Carter B. Horsley

The May 13, 2014 Contemporary Art evening auction at Christie's New York is highlighted by two good works by Francis Bacon, a long and stunning, stainless-steel train filled with Jim Beam bourbon by Jeff Koons, a major abstraction by Mark Rothko, a great Clyfford Still, a great Anselm Kiefer, two good Andy Warhols, several excellent works by Joseph Cornell, a good Barnett Newman, and fine works by Jean-Michel Basquiet and Roy Lichtenstein.

The sale was a resounding and sensational success with 98 percent of the 68 offered lots selling for $744,00,944,000, a 94 percent sell-rate, significantly exceeding last fall's historic $691 milion sale at Christie's and far in excess of last's night's pre-sale estimate of about $500 million.

Laura Paulson and Brett Gorvy, heads of the Contemporary Department, Stephen Brooks, chief operating officer of Christie's, and Jussi Pylkkanen, auctioneer at news conference

After the auction, Brett Gorvy said that the results were "phenomenal" with a "fantastic global response" in a "very sophisticated market." He said that Christie's had had about 12,000 visitors in the two weeks leading up to the auction.

Xin Li, deputy chairman, Christie's Asia, bidding on phone bank

About half of the top ten lots were won by clients of Xin Li, the very tall and very striking deputy chairman of Christie's Asia, bidding from the phones on the side of the packed auction rooms presumably on behalf of Chinese clients.

According to a May 14, 2014 article at Blouin Art Info by Judd Tuddy "forty of the lots were guaranteed with the majority, 34, financed directly by Christie's, six by anonymous third parties."

The hefty and very impressive catalogue weighs about 8 pounds.

Lot 15, "Abstraktes Bild (712)," by Gerhard Richter, oil on canvas 102 1/4 by 78 1/2 inches, 1990

An indication of the stratospheric euphoria that pervaded the auction is that "Abstraktes Bild (712)," a good but not sensational abstract painting by Gerhard Richter, Lot 15), sold for $29,285,000, a bit over its high pre-sale estimate of $28 million but significantly above its November 12, 2012 auction at Sotheby's New York of $17,442,500. Lot 15 is an oil on canvas from 1990 that measures 102 1/4 by 78 1/2 inches.

Francis Bacon (1909-1992) whose "Three Studies of Lucien Freud," set an auction record for any artist last fall at Christie's of more than $142 million when it was bought by Mrs. Steve Wynne, had two works in the auction, Lots 20 and 37.

Lot 20 is a large tritych like the one that set the record last fall and it is entitled "Three Studies for a Portrait of John Edwards," each measuring 78 1/8 by 58 1/4 inches, and painted in 1984. It is shown at the top of this article. John Edwards was a bar manager from London's East End who Bacon had met a decade earlier and had become one of the artist's closest and most trusted companions, according to the catalogue entry. The lot has an estimate on request and has been widely published and exhibited. It sold for $80,805,000. It has sold at Christie's in London in February 2001 for $4,497,885.

Lot 37, "Figure Turning," by Francis Bacon, oil on canvas, 78 1/8 by 57 inches, 1962

Lot 37, "Figure Turning," is an excellent oil on canvas by Francis Bacon that measures 78 1/8 by 57 inches. It was painted in 1962. It has an estimate of $20,000,000 to $30,000,000. It sold for $22,565,000.

Lot 31, "Untitled," by Mark Rothko, oil on canvas, 103 by 62 1/2 inches, 1952

Lot 31 is a superb untitled oil on canvas by Mark Rothko (1904-1970). It measures 103 by 62 1/2 inches and was painted in 1952. It was included in the artist's retrospective in 1978-9 at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum.

It has an estimate on request. It sold for $66,245,000.

Lot 70, "Untitled,"by Mark Rothko, oil on paper mounted on panel, 48 1/2 by 40 1/2 inches, 1969

Lot 70 is an excellent untitled oil on paper mounted on panel by Mark Rothko (1903-1970). It measures 48 1/2 by 40 1/2 inches and was painted a year before his death when the year before doctors forbade him because of his declining health to work on very large canvases.

The catalogue entry provides the following commentary:

"Yet where light seems trapped rather than released, where forms appear static rather than floating, if one stands close to the work - as Rothko wished - what emerges are myriad sensory cues, cascades of multidirectional striations,variable interstices of chramatic layers, and a luminescene that hovers over the surcace, flickering in counterpoint under raking light."

It has an estimate of $2,500,000 to $3,500,000. It sold for $3,637,000.

Lot 35, "PH-1033," by Clyfford Still, oil on canvas, 93 1/2 by 83 inches, 1976

Lot 35 is an excellent, "electric" abstraction by Clyfford Still (1904-1980) entitled "PH-1033." An oil on canvas that measures 93 1/2 by 83 inches, it was painted in 1976. It has a very modest estimate of $15,000,000 to $20,000,000. It sold for $17,525,000.

Lot 34, "Black Fire I," by Barnett Newman, oil on canvas, 114 by 84 inches, 1961

Lot 34 is a large abstract oil on canvas by Barnett Newman (1905-1970). Entitled "Black Fire I," it measures 114 by 84 inches, it was painted in 1961. It was once owned by Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Holzer of New York and has been widely published and exhibited. It has an estimate on request and sold for $84,165,000, an astounding price considering that it is not a spectacular nor great picture. The previous auction record for the artist was $43,845,000, set at Sotheby's New York May 14, 2013. Some of his other "zip" pictures have more dynamic interest. After the auction, Mr. Gorvy remarked that the price was "not a surprise as it was one of the last great paintings left in private hands."

The auction also set records for Joan Mitchell (1925-1992) of $11,925,000, Frank Stella (b. 1936) of $6,661,000, Robert Gober (b. 1954) of $4,197,000, Marvin Puryear (b. 1941) of $1,805,000, Salvatore Scarpitta (1919-2007) of $1,445,000, Robert Mangold (b. 1937) of $965,000, and Lucas Samaras (b. 1936) of $281,000.

Lot 28, "Jim Beam - J.B. Turner Train," by Jeff Koons, stainless steel and bourbon, 11 by 114 by 6 1/2 inches, 1986, this work is the artist's proof from an edition of three and one artist's proof

The cover illustration of the catalogue is Lot 28, "Jim Beam - J. B. Turner Train," by Jeff Koons (b. 1955). (The cover illustration of Sotheby's Contemporary Art evening auction this season is another work by Koons, the far more colorful and dramatic, "Popeye.") The very impressive stainless steel train contains bourbon and measures 11 by 114 by 6 1/2 inches. It is the artist's proof from an edition of three and one artist's proof. Other examples have been very widely exhibited and another example has been requested for a retrospective exhibition that begins next month at the Whitney Museum of American Art. The catalogue describes the work as "a silvery seam of industrial nostalgia," and adds that "Like Andy Warhol, Koons has taken an iconic element from the cultural landscape of the United States and used it as a vehicle for a sophisticated investigation of art and society."

It has an estimate of request. It sold for $33,765,000.

Lot 64, "Kiepenkerl," by Jeff Koons, stainless steel, 71 by 26 by 37 inches, 1987, this work is the artist's proof from an edition of three and one artist's proof.

Lot 64, "Kiepenkerl," by Jeff Koons, is a stainless steel statue that measures 72 by 26 by 37 inches and was created in 1987. This work is the artist's proof from an edition of three and one artist's proof.

Kiepenkerl was a traveling salesman, a folk hero who traveled peddling hom egrown produce and gossip. The catalogue rerpoduces a Nazi propaganda poster from 1944 with Kiepenkerl.

It has an estimate of $3,500,000 to $4,500,000. It sold for $4,085,000.

Lot 23, "Race Riot," by Andy Warhol, acrylic and silkscreen ink on linen in four parts, 60 by 66 inches overall, 1964

Widely exhibited and published, this four-part work by Andy Warhol (1928-1987) was once owned by Robert Mapplethorpe, the photographer. Lot 23, it is entiled "Race Riot" and the acrylic and silkscreen ink on linen measures 60 by 66 inches overall and was created in 1964. Warhol painted 10 "Race Riot" pictures in 1963 and 1964 based on Charles Moore's photographs of police action against blacks in Birmingham, Alabama in May 1963 and his photographs appeared in Life magazine. Warhol often remarked that repetition "deconstructs the meaning of a work." This work has an estimate on request. It sold for $62,885,000.

Lot 69, "John Lennon," by Andy Warhol, synthetic polymer and silkscreen inks on canvas, 40 1/8 inches square, 1986

Lot 69 is an excellent portrait of John Lennon by Andy Warhol. The synthetic polymer and silkscreen inks on canvas measures 40 1/8 inches square and was created in 1986. It is similar but more vibrant to a portrait with a black background that Warhol did for Lennon's posthumous album "Menlove Ave." It has an estimate of $2,500,000 to $3,500,000. It sold for $2,853,000.

Lot 26, "White Marilyn," by Andy Warhol, acrylic and silkscreen ink on linen, 20 by 16 inches, 1962

Lot 26 is a white acrylic and silkscreen ink on linen image of Marlyn Monroe by Andy Warhol. Created in 1962, it measures 20 by 16 inches. It is based on a photograph by Gene Korman of the actress as a publicity shot for the 1953 movie Niagara. The actress committed suicide August 5, 1962. This is one of 12 portraits he did of the actress in the same dimensions and this work was one of eight Marilyns selected for the artist's one-man exhibition at Eleanor Ward's New York Gallery in Novvember, 1962. It has an estimate of $12,000,000 to $18,000,000. It sold for $41 045,000.

Lot 66, "The Prisoner,"by Roy Lichtenstein, oil and Magna on canvas, 60 by 40 inches, 1980

Lot 66 is an excellent oil and Magna on canvas by Roy Lichtenstein (1923-1997) from 1980 entitled "The Prisoner." It measures 60 by 40 inches. It has a modest estimate of $2,500,000 to $3,500,000. It sold for $5,093,000.

Lot 30, "Number 5, 1951/'Elegant Lady,'" by Jackson Pollock, oil on canvas, 58 by 55 1/2 inches, 1951

Lot 30, "Number 5, 1951/"Elegant Lady," by Jackson Pollock (1912-1956) is an oil on canvas that measures 58 by 55 1/2 inches. It was painted in 1951 and has been widely exhibited. It has an estimate of $12,000,000 to $18,000,000. It sold for $11,365,000.

Lot 36, "Untitled," by Jean-Michel Basquiat, acrylic, oilstick and metallic spray enamel on canvas, 68 by 103 inches, 1981

Lot 36 is an untitled acrylic, oilstick and metallic spray enamel on canvas by Jean-Michel Basquiat (1960-1988). It measures 68 by 103 inches and was painted in 1981, probably in the basement of Annina Nosei's Gallery at 100 Prince Street where Phoebe Hoban observed that "the room was filled with a haze of pot smoke," adding that "There was a mound of coke on a table, a couple of funky chairs, and a boom box, playing a steady stream of Charlie Parker." The catalogue entry observes that "Untitled captures the artist's nuanced appropriation of iconography based on such diverse sources as African masks, voodoo figurines and Western religious symbols, such as angels, halos, devils, saints and martyrs, as conduits to explore ideas surrrounding power, myth-making and his everday existence. Emerging from this richly wrought backdrop Basquiat conjures his large-scale warrior figure with equal parts menace and humor partially revealing its skeletal makeup and internal organs which recalls the artist's deep and recuring interest in anatomy."

The lot has an estimate of $20,000,000 to $30,000,000. It sold for $34,885,000.

Lot 60, "Do Not Revenge," by Jean-Michel Basquat, acrylic and oilstick on canvas, 52 by 84 inches, 1982

Lot 60 is a smaller Basquiat painted one year later than Lot 36 that is perhaps a stronger picture. It is entitled "Do Not Revenge," and an is an acrylic and oilstick on canvas that measures 52 by 84 inches.

The catalogue entry includes the following Basquiat quote:

"Picasso arrived at primitive art in order togive ot is nobility to Western art. And I arrived at Picasso to give nobility to the art called primitive."

The lot has a modest estimateof $8,000,000 to $12,000,000. It sold for $9,293,000.

Lot 67, "The Eastern Skies are Laden with Silk," by Anselm Kiefer, oil, emulsion, shellac, resin, ashes, hair and coated branches on lead laid down on canvas, 82 5/8 by 220 3/8 inches, 2004

Lot 67 is an enormous and superb work by Anselm Kiefer (b. 1945) entitled "The Eastern Skies are Laden with Silk." An oil, emulsion, shellac, resin, ashes, hair and coated branches on lead laid down on canvas, it measures 82 5/8 by 220 3/8 inches. It was created in 2004. The top of the painting has an inscription from Paul Celan whose 1944 poem "Septemberkrone inspired Kiefer to create this searing evocation of historical memory," according to the catalogue entry. Celan was the only surviving member of a Romanian Jewish family that was deported and subsequently exterminated at a Nazi concentration camp and he subsequently commited suicide but not before producing "some of the most haunting Germanic poetry ever written," according to the catalogue.

The lot has a modest estimate of $2,000,000 to $3,000,000. It was passed at $950,000.

Laura Paulson and Brett Gorvy of Christie's taking phone bids on Alexander Calder's Lot 25, "Poisson volant (Flying Fish)," shown above, with Steven P. Murphy, chief executive officer of Christie's, and Carol Vogel of The New York Times shown below podium at left

Lot 25, "Poisson Volant (Flying Fish)," a large mobile by Alexander Calder (1898-1976) was executed in 1957 and measures 89 by 24 by 40 inches and is part of the Bergman Collection. It has an estimate of $9,000,000 to $12,000,000. It sold for an astounding $25,925,000, smashing his previous auction record of $18,562,500 set at Christie's New York May 8, 2012.

The auction has several superb Joseph Cornell lots that had been exhibited from 1980 to 1982 at the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Art Institute of Chicago as part of the Lindy and Edwin Bergman Joseph Cornell Collection.

"Lot 5, "Untitled (Penny Arcade Portrait of Lauren Bacall)," by Joseph Cornell, wood box construction with wood, glass, paint, tinted glass, mirror, foil paper, string thread and printed paper collage and accompanying dossier of a paperboard folder with photographs, photo-mechanical reproductions, magazine excerpts, pamplet and notes, 20 1/2 by 17 by 3 1/2 inches, 1946

Lot 5 is a large wood box construction by Joseph Cornell (1903-1972) entitled "Penny Arcade Portrait of Lauren Bacall" that was created in 1946. It measures 20 1/2 by 17 by 3 1/2 inches. It has been widely exhibited nad published. The artist began creating this work after watched the actress in "To Have and Have Not," a film he described as "pure Hollywood hokum." It has an estimate of $4,000,000 to $6,000,000. It sold for $5,317,000.

Lot 10, "Medici Princess," by Joseph Cornell, wood box construction, wood, printed paper collage, paint, glass, metal and mirror, 14 1/8 by 11 by 4 inches, 1952

Lot 10 is a lovely wood box construction by Cornell from 1952 entitled "Medici Princess." It measures 14 1/8 by 11 by 4 inches. It was illustrated on the cover of the July-August, 1967 issue of Art News to acccompany an article by me. The girl in the center of the lot is Bia de' Medici as portrayed by Bronzino. It has an estimate of $2,500,000 to $3,500,000. It sold for $5,989,000.

Another "Medici" wood box construction by Cornell, Lot 7, "Medici Slot Machine," executed in 1943 is estimated at $2,500,000 to $3,500,000. It sold for $7,781,000, soaring above the artist's previous auction record of $4,827,750 set at Christie's New York May 15, 2013.

Lot 2, "Untitled (Snow Maiden)," by Joseph Cornell, box construction of wood, paper, printed paper, glass, paint and dried flowers, 13 1/8 by 13 1/4 by 2 5/8 inches, 1933

Lot 2, "Snow Maiden," is a lovely and simple Cornell box construction from 1933 with wood, paper, printed paper glass, paint and direct flowers. It measures 13 1/8 by 13 1/4 by 2 5/8 inches. It has an estimate of $800,000 to $1,200,000. It sold for $1,685,000.

Lot 13, "Self-Portrait," by Wayne Thiebaud, oil on linen, 15 7/8 inches square, 1973

Another work from the Bergman Collection is Lot 13, "Self-Portrait" by Wayne Thiebaud (b. 1920). An oil on linen, it measures 15 7/8 inches square and was painted in 1973. It has an estimate of $1,200,000 to $1,800,000. It sold for $2,517,000.

Lot 27, "Donna nuda al telefono,"by Michelangelo Pistoletto," painted tissue paper on polished stainless steel, 84 3/4 by 47 1/4 inches, 1965

Lot 27, "Donna nuda al telefono," by Michelangelo Pistoletto (b. 1933) is painted tissue paper on polished stainless steel. It measures 84 3/4 by 47 1/4 inches and was created in 1965.

It has an estimate of $1,500,000 to $2,500,000 It sold for $2,629,000.