Picasso 'Nude, Green Leaves and Bust', Christie's New York, lot 6, May 4. 2010

Christie’s New York held several Impressionist and Modern Art sales, May 4-5, 2010. The PROPERTY FROM THE COLLECTION OF MRS. SIDNEY F. BRODY sale included lot 6, a Pablo Picasso painting entitled “Nude, Green Leaves and Bust”. It sold for $106,482,500, becoming the most expensive single work of art ever sold at auction. It eclipsed the recent record of $101,426,070, set by a bronze sculpture by Alberto Giacometti entitled “Walking Man I”, that was sold at Sotheby’s in London on February 3, 2010.

Alberto Giacometti bronze 'Walking Man I', lot Sotheby's London, February 3, 2010

The painting was purchased in 1950 from the art dealer Paul Rosenberg for $17,000. It was painted in 1932 and depicts the model Marie-Thérèse Walter. The painting has only been exhibited once in public, in 1961, at an exhibition sponsored by the UCLA Art Council.

Interestingly enough, the ladies of The View discussed the sale of the painting on their show, but were forced by the network’s attorneys to blur out the breasts of the nude. What??? Scantily clad women can dance on Dancing With the Stars, soap operas have blatant sexual topics and near nudity, but The View can’t show two single line breasts? Just plain nuts.

The Brody sale also eclipsed another record, the highest gross for any single owner collection sold at auction — $224,177,500. Click on this link for the entire sale results. The Brody Collection Results.

In the next few days and weeks, I’ll be adding my new acquisitions to my website as they come in. Please take a look. Click on this link chasenantiques.com.

Please send me your suggestions or questions about art glass, lamps, Louis Icart, shows, auctions, etc. If it’s interesting, I’ll answer your question in a future blog.