Market Gains Confidence at Christie’s

Tamara de Lempicka Pablo Picasso Alberto Giacometti Henri Matisse Henry Moore Julian Schnabel Max Ernst Camille Pissarro

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Henri Matisse’s Nu à la serviette blanche, circa 1901–03, an early and decidedly clunky-looking nude, at least in comparison to his late work, sold to Jose Mugrabi for $3,218,500 (est. $2–3 million).

Another de Lempicka, La chemise rose I, an oil on panel, circa 1927, also triggered some fevered bidding, selling on the phone for $3,218,500 (est. $1.3–1.8 million). Dealers Dominique Lévy of L&M Arts and David Benrimon were the underbidders.

“This is my 40th year going to auctions,” said New York dealer Paul Herring, moments after the hard-charging sale, “and I still can’t figure it out.”

The evening action resumes next week in the contemporary arena, on May 12 at Sotheby’s. Judd Tully is Editor at Large of Art+Auction.