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Paul Cezanne: Rideau, Cruchon et Compotier

April 3, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Paul Cezanne Rideau Cruchon et Compotier 1893 1894

Rideau, Cruchon et Compotier (1893-1894), oil on canvas painting by Paul Cézanne, 59 cm x 72.4 cm, Whitney Museum of American Art, New York City

The still life oil painting titled ‘Rideau, Cruchon et Compotier’ (1893- 1894) by the Post-Impressionist French artist Paul Cézanne (1839-1906), is considered the most expensive still life painting in the world ever sold in an auction.

Another oil painting that comes in the list of the most expensive paintings in the world is ‘Irises’ (Les Iris) by Vincent van Gogh, which was sold for $53.9 million (inflation adjusted price: $102 million in Sep 2010) in November 1987.

Cezanne is often referred to as the bridge between Impressionism and Cubism, and he is credited for laying the foundation for transition from the 19th century artistic styles to a radically different style in the early 20th century.

During his career Cézanne created a number of famous still lifes, apart from a large number of other paintings including landscapes and a series of ‘bathers’. His paintings eventually became a huge source of inspiration and model for artists like Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse.

On 10 May 1999 during the sale of the Whitney family art collection, ‘Rideau, Cruchon et Compotier’ (Curtain, Jug and Fruit Bowl) was sold to an unidentified buyer at an auction at Sotheby’s, New York, for $60.5 million (inflation adjusted price as on September 2010: $79.5 million), which was a record price.

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Vincent van Gogh: Irises (Les Iris)

March 31, 2011 by 1 Comment
Vincent van Gogh Irises Les Iris 1889 300x236

Irises (Les Iris), oil painting of 1889 by Vincent van Gogh, 71 cm x 93 cm, J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, California, USA

‘Irises’ (Les Iris) is an oil-on-canvas painting by the Dutch post-impressionist artist Vincent van Gogh. It is currently on display at J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles, California, USA.

Vincent van Gogh painted ‘Irises’ in May 1889, days after he was admitted at the psychiatric center at Monastery Saint-Paul de Mausole in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, southern France.

The French art critic and one of Van Gogh’s initial supporters Octave Mirbeau who paid 300 francs for Irises was the painting’s first owner.

In November 1987 it an auction at Sotheby’s in New York it was sold for $53.9 million ($102 million in Sep 2010, after adjusting for inflation based on wholesale price index) to Alan Bond, the debt-ridden Australian businessman known for his high-profile business deals and one of the largest corporate collapses in Australian history. The sale set a record for Irises as the most expensive painting in the world, and the record was unbeaten for nearly two and a half years.

Because Alan Bond did not have enough funds to pay for the painting, the auction house Sotheby’s lent him the money, keeping Irises as collateral, to pay the seller who was the heir of Joan Whitney Payson. Before the auction, the painting was at the Joan Whitney Payson Gallery of Art at Westbrook College in Portland, Me., USA.

In 1990, Irises was re-sold by Sotheby’s to J. Paul Getty Museum, one of the richest in the world and one of the most visited art museums in the United States.

According to van Gogh scholars, Irises, with its asymmetrical design and the strikingly odd depiction of a single large white iris flower among purple irises, is one of the finest works of the artist. Unlike his later works that show high emotional discontentment and high tension as if mirroring van Gogh’s own turbulent state of mind, Irises is painted in a relaxed mood, and it radiates pleasant positive emotions. Moreover, the painting gives the idea that van Gogh was reinventing himself with a radically different style, a style that is more realistic than impressionistic. It is also noted for the absence of circular patterns, swirls, etc. found in his paintings.

Vincent van Gogh was highly inspired by the Japanese art form ukiyo-e, a genre of woodblock prints and paintings, and its influence is pronounced in some of his works. Irises is a typical example of the ukiyo-e influence.

On May 8, 1889, van Gogh got himself admitted at the psychiatric center at Monastery Saint-Paul de Mausole in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France, for treatment. Some of his best works had been created while he was there, including ‘The Starry Night’ (1889), which is considered as his magnum opus by art historians and art writers.

After his release from the asylum in May 1890, van Gogh lived at Auvers-sur-Oise, near Dr. Paul Gachet, who treated him during the last months of his life. The portrait of this doctor painted by him, ‘Portrait of Dr. Gachet’ (June 1890), was sold in a 1990 auction for a record price of $82.5 million ($75 million plus 10% commission), which adjusted for inflation as on Sep 2010is equivalent to $139.5 million. His ‘Self-portrait without beard’ (1889) was sold for $71.5 million in 1998 (inflation adjusted price as on Sep 2010: $95.3 million).

Incidentally these are some of the paintings created by van Gogh when he was the most unstable mentally, and strangely, these paintings are in the list of the most expensive paintings ever sold in the world.

He had been a victim of mental troubles throughout his life. It was acute during his last years, making him incapable of work as an artist and subjecting him to frequent severe bouts of depression. On 27 July 1890, at the age of 37, he shot himself in the chest with a revolver and died two days later.

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Amedeo Modigliani: the saddest life of one of the most expensive artists of modern times

March 10, 2011 by 1 Comment
Portrait of Amedeo Modigliani by Jeanne Hébuterne 1919 196x300

Portrait of Amedeo Modigliani (1919) oil painting by Jeanne Hébuterne, French artist and common-law wife of Amedeo Modigliani

It is sometimes hard to believe that some of the artists, whose works are now counted as the most expensive paintings in the world, once lived hand-to-mouth lives during their lifetimes. They are often referred to as ‘struggling artists’ and, sadly, many of them had died poverty-stricken, after a lifetime of hard work, without earning any name or fame.

In the beginning of the twentieth century, most of the young artists of the times used to head for Paris, variously described in art circles as The Art Capital of Europe, The Mecca of Artists, etc. An aspiring Italian artist named Amedeo Clemente Modigliani (July 12, 1884 – January 24, 1920) too moved to Paris in 1906, and settled in the penniless artists’ commune Le Bateau-Lavoir in Montmartre.

The Polish poet, writer and art dealer Léopold Zborowski (1889-1932) was a friend, financier, and art dealer of Amedeo Modigliani. Zborowski allowed him to use of his apartment, supplied him with painting materials and female models. Also, he bought Modigliani’s paintings by paying 15 to 20 francs for each day of his work.

In 1918 Zborowski organized a trip to the south of France for his artist-friends so that they could sell their paintings to the rich tourists visiting the area. Modigliani and his lover (and common law wife) Jeanne Hébuterne, who was also his model and an artist in her own right, joined the trip. Others in the group were the Tokyo-born artist Tsuguharu Foujita (1886-1968) and his second wife Fernande Barrey, and the Jewish painter from what is today Belarus, Chaïm Soutine (1893-1943).

The artists’ trip turned out to be sour, as badly as poorly fermented French wine. The group had to survive on the advance funds they were paid by their friend and art dealer Zborowski, as they could attract zero sales.

Their funds had run out. Their landlord zeroed in on them for rent. The artists offered him their works of art in lieu of rent payment, but the landlord rejected their paintings and confiscated their baggage.

Modigliani’s life could not be termed as a happy one by any standards.

Modigliani was born into a Jewish family in the Italian port city Livorno, which had served as a refuge for people persecuted for their religion. As his father’s business as a money-changer flopped, his family had to live in poverty.

Modigliani suffered from pleurisy when he was eleven, a few years later he developed typhoid fever, and contracted tuberculosis at sixteen. During his student years, despite being troubled by tuberculosis, he started substance abuse and alcoholism heavily. Also, he started frequenting brothels and carried on with numerous, frequent affairs.

Sadly, he developed self-destructive tendencies too, possibly, because he presumed that tuberculosis had already marked his early death. Finally, he became “the epitome of the tragic artist”. Some art writers assume that Modigliani’s self-destructive behavior may have stemmed from the lack of recognition of his artistic endeavors.

The only solo art exhibition of his paintings during his lifetime was in 1917, and it was closed down by French police within hours because of allegations of nudity.

After suffering from poverty, overwork and addiction to alcohol and narcotics, on 24 January 1920, at the age of 35, Amedeo Modigliani died in Paris of tubercular meningitis.

Today, Amedeo Modigliani is one of the most sought after artists of modern times, with his works like ‘The Beautiful Roman Woman, having gone on auction for $68.9 million, and some other works of him also having entered the list of the most expensive works of art, a recognition that eluded him during his lifetime.

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The most expensive paintings in the world

March 9, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Diana and Actaeon oil painting by Titian 1556 1559 300x274

Photo of Diana and Actaeon (1556-1559), oil painting by the Italian Renaissance Master Titian

Which is the most expensive painting in the world?

Well, I must confess that I can’t say for sure. But, I can refer you to a list of most expensive paintings published by Wikipedia.

While I was searching for some information on the price of oil paintings, and other related facts, I came across a painting ‘Diana and Actaeon’ by the Italian Renaissance master Titian, which had the tag as one of the most expensive paintings in the world (the painting featured on the left).

Considered one of the greatest works of Titian, ‘Diana and Actaeon’ (painting of 1556-1559), is currently valued at US$72.7 million (inflation adjusted dollar value based on US Consumer Price Index), which was sold for US$70.6 million (£50 million) by Duke of Sutherland to the National Galleries of Scotland, and the National Gallery (London) at a private sale on February 1, 2009.

By the way, interestingly, Diana and Actaeon, is on tour now, and being exhibited at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts from 6 Feb 2011 to 1 May 2011. On its return from tour, it will remain on display in the National Gallery (London) for 5 years, and then move to the National Galleries of Scotland for another 5 years, alternating between the two art galleries every five years.

Diana and Actaeon that portrays the meeting of Goddess Diana with Actaeon is one of a series of seven celebrated oil paintings by Titian, and known as the ‘poesies’, featuring mythological characters and scenes from Ovid’s Metamorphoses.

Now let us consider the one of the most famous paintings in the world, Mona Lisa, by Leonardo da Vinci, currently on display at the Musée du Louvre in Paris and owned by the Government of France. It was also on its famous tour in 1962-63 to the United States for exhibition in New York City and Washington, D.C.

Can Mona Lisa be included in the list of the most expensive paintings? Probably not, the list of the costliest paintings considers only those paintings sold in an auction or sale, and the sale price is known or published.

Incidentally, ‘Mona Lisa’ and ‘Diana and Actaeon’ are just two of the most expensive paintings in the world. The Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I by Gustav Klimt, sold for U$135 million, is another oil painting in the list of the world’s costliest paintings.

So, which is the most expensive painting? The official recognition for this title has gone to ‘No. 5, 1948’, an oil painting created in 1948 by the abstract expressionist American painter Jackson Pollock.

Jackson Pollock’s No. 5,1948, valued at US$151.8 million (after adjusting for dollar value inflation based on consumer price index), was sold by David Geffen for US$140 million to an undisclosed buyer at a private sale via Sotheby’s on 2 November 2006.

Unfortunately, you cannot find Mona Lisa in the list of the priciest paintings. The reason is very simple. Mona Lisa is owned by the French Government and it has never been put on sale. The only occasion it changed hands is when it was stolen by Vincenzo Peruggia, a Louvre employee, on August 22, 1911 (and recovered later). So, throughout its history, Mona Lisa was either owned by the rulers of France, or the French Government.

So, the question arises as to whether we can call paintings that were recently sold in auctions or public or private sales as the most expensive paintings, ignoring paintings like Mona Lisa. I think it is incorrect.

As an example, let us find out what would be the price of Mona Lisa, if it is sold in an auction.

Before Mona Lisa’s tour to USA (1962), in an assessment for insurance purposes, the painting was valued at US$100 million, though it was not insured for the American tour. When adjusted for inflation using the US Consumer Price Index, US$100 million in 1962 was estimated to be equal to about US$700 million in 2009. Can it be its real worth? Not necessarily!

There are several occasions when reserved prices are estimated on the basis of similar considerations and published prior to auction by the biggest art auction companies. When the actual sales take place, the price the painting or art piece fetches are either above such estimated prices or lower than that. Still, estimates based on relevant data helps in art evaluation.

Like Mona Lisa, there are thousands of famous paintings owned by art museums, governments, individuals and families that are either never sold in recent times, or the last known sale price is too old to rely upon. Such prices also cannot show today’s real value even if they are adjusted for change in the value of money.

Note: The image of Diana and Actaeon is a public domain photo, free from copyright restrictions. You can download it and use it in any way you like.

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Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I, painting by Gustav Klimt

February 28, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Portrait of Adele Bloch Bauer I painting by Gustav Klimt 1907 295x300

Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I (1907), oil on canvas painting, 138 cm x 138 cm by Gustav Klimt, image size: 1800 x 1830 pixels

On June 19, 2006, Carol Vogel wrote in an article titled “Lauder Pays $135 Million, a Record, for a Klimt Portrait” published in The New York Times that a 1907 portrait by the Austrian Symbolist painter Gustav Klimt (1862-1918) had been purchased by Ronald S. Lauder for US$135 million.

Obviously the article is about the auction of the “Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I”, considered one of Klimt’s masterpieces, and one of the most expensive paintings ever sold. According to Vogel, it was ‘the highest sum ever paid for a painting’ (till that time). As of September 2010, the value of the painting after adjusting for inflation, based on the consumer price index, was US$145.3 million.

The painting was sold by Maria Altmann, a niece of Adele Bloch-Bauer, in a private sale through Christie’s and the buyer was the American businessman and art collector Ronald Lauder, who bought the painting for his Neue Galerie New York, located in New York City, United States.

The painting made of oil and gold on canvas measuring 138 cm x 138 cm, was commissioned by Ferdinand Bloch-Bauer, a wealthy Jewish sugar industrialist, patron of arts and a supporter of Klimt. The painting is a portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer, the wife of Bloch-Bauer.

According to art historians, Gustav Klimt took three years to complete the painting in 1907. It was embedded with gold and silver and with intricate artwork typical of Klimt’s style. Incidentally, Adele Bloch-Bauer had served as a female model for some of Klimt’s paintings and she was the only model whose picture was painted more than once by Klimt (including Adele Bloch-Bauer II which was completed by him in 1912).

In her will, Adele Bloch-Bauer requested her husband to donate the paintings by Klimt to the Österreichische Galerie Belvedere (the Austrian State Gallery) upon his own death. But his entire estate, including the paintings was looted by the Nazis who invaded and occupied Austria, and he escaped to Switzerland. In 1945, Ferdinand Bloch-Bauer designated his nephew and two nieces, including Maria Altmann as his estate’s legal heirs.

After World War II, the paintings came into the possession of the Austrian government. When laws were enacted in Austria for the restitution of art stolen during WWII, Altmann, who had escaped from Nazi occupation and settled in the U.S., went to Austria to claim the paintings. She even allowed them to keep the two portraits of her aunt, and claimed only the three Klimt landscapes. Because the negotiations did not find any solution, in 1999 she the Government of Austria in an Austrian court.

In 2000 she filed a lawsuit in the United States (Republic of Austria v. Altmann), and the case ended up in the Supreme Court of the United States that ruled in 2004 that ‘Austria was not immune from such a lawsuit’. Following it, Altmann and Austria entered a non-binding arbitration, upon which the arbitration court ruled in January 2006 that “Austria was legally required to return the art to Altmann”. After this ruling, Austria returned all the five Klimt paintings — Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I (1907), Adele Bloch-Bauer II (1912), Buchenwald/Birkenwald (1903), Apfelbaum I (1912), and Häuser in Unterach am Attersee (1916) — to Maria Altmann.

After the paintings reached the United States, they were exhibited in Los Angeles in 2006 before the portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I was sold to Lauder. In November 2006, the second portrait, Adele Bloch-Bauer II (1912) was sold for about US$88 million at auction at Christie’s in New York. The other four remaining paintings were reportedly sold for $192.7 million, and the proceeds from the sale of the five Klimt paintings were divided among Altmann and the other heirs of the estate.

NOTE: This is a public domain photo of an artwork and free from copyright restrictions because of its age. You are FREE to download it and use this free image for any purpose, including commercial. Click on the image to view original and save to your computer’s hard disk.

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