2024-03-07 22:06:05
With the economic crisis “hitting” and the diamonds of modern Greek art, yesterday’s Greek Sale of the Bonhams auction house took place. And this is because only 51% of the 175 projects that went under the hammer eventually managed to change hands, despite the reasonable starting prices. The total turnover of the auction was 2,250,000 euros, i.e. it fluctuated at the same levels as last year.
The top work of the auction was the painting “West on the Coast” by Konstantinos Volanakis, which managed to sell for 181.00 euros.
In fact, it is characteristic that the work, created before 1883, far exceeded the initial estimates. However, there were quite a few masterpieces that were left on the… shelf. Thus, the work of Konstantinos Maleas “Prophet Elias”, the painting of Konstantinos Parthenis “Still Life with Fruit, Cup and Jug”, a work of the artist’s mature period, which has also been presented at the Venice Biennale in 1938, remained unsold. “Sitting naked” by Yiannis Moralis.
“Rational and moderate starting prices are the key to the stabilization and further development of the Greek art market” said Mrs. Terpsichori Angelopoulou of Art Expertise, who represents Bonhams in Greece.
The second most valuable work of last night was the painting “Falaise” by Nikos Hatzikyriakos-Ghikas, which was “struck” at the amount of 167,000 euros. It is a work inspired by Japanese calligraphy, which gives a transcendent tone to the rendering of Greek nature.
At a high price, exactly as expected, at 111,360 euros, the well-known work of Constantinos Maleos “Analatos”, a painting that became known mainly from bibliographies and exhibitions, since it perfectly captures the Attic light, was also sold. In fact, the most remarkable thing is that it is being exhibited for the first time since the artist’s big retrospective in 1980.
At the same price (111,360 euros) was sold the work “Cloudy Sky, trees and riverbed” by Nikos Hatzikyriakos-Ghikas, one of the artist’s most representative paintings, a typical example of his innovative approach to nature.
The work “Landscape” by Nikolaos Lytras, a collector’s creation with vivid colors and strong strokes, was sold at the price of 90,500 euros, while a little lower, collecting 83,500 euros, went the work “Portrait of Mrs. Skaramangas” by Georgios Iakovides.
The work “Trou-ciel-ordures” by Kostas Tsoklis with a price of 48,700 euros, a creation that went to auction for the first time, also did very well. It is characteristic that he set a record price for the artist.
Characteristic of the situation that has begun to affect the art market as well is that in last year’s corresponding auction of Greek art, 62% of the works were sold and the total turnover had reached 2,200,000 euros.
413,000 euros for the naked Andromeda
Sir Edward John Poynter’s painting steals the show at Sotheby’s auction
A Greek legend worth 413,000 euros! The painting “Andromeda” by the painter Sir Edward John Poyder, organized by Sotheby’s in London, reached these inconceivable astronomical sums during yesterday’s auction.
The stunning nude portrait of Andromeda, created in 1869 by the famous British artist, is one of several works of art to go under the hammer as part of the Summer Auction of Victorian and Edwardian Art.
The work – which also graces the cover of the official catalog of the auction – was declared the top piece of the auction, which raised a total of 3,500,000 euros!
According to experts, the painting belongs to a collection of works created by the artist on behalf of the South Kensington Museum, when he was commissioned to curate the painting decoration of the building. Inspired by Greek mythology, the famous painter created a series of heroines, of which the painting of Andromeda undoubtedly stood out.
In fact, it is characteristic that this work was the first “unclothed” portrait that Poynter presented to the public, at a time when nudity in art was viewed with skepticism. However, when this particular painting was exhibited at the Royal Academy of Arts in 1870, it did not provoke unfavorable comments, which is attributed to the unique way in which the subject in question is approached.
The myth of the defenseless princess Andromeda, who, in order to save her people and appease the god Poseidon, was sacrificed to a sea beast (ultimately saved by Perseus), has often occupied the artistic world. Among the most famous works of world art inspired by the Greek myth are certainly the work of the Italian Renaissance painter Titian “Perseus and Andromeda” (permanent exhibit of the Wallace Collection) and the work of Peter Paul Rubens “Perseus Frees Andromeda” » exhibited at the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg.
Iota Vazoura
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