Christie’s has announced its 2008 Spanish Art sale in Madrid on 2 October 2008. Celebrating its 5th anniversary, the sale will include a leading selection of art works by the most renowned Spanish artists of all ages: from Old Masters Paintings to Impressionist and Modern Art, to Post War and Contemporary Art.

The Modern and Contemporary Art section will include an amazing variety of artists representing the most interesting styles and genres. Since a record prize was achieved for Madrid desde Torres Blancas in last June’s sale at Christie’s London, Antonio López is now the most expensive Spanish living artist and two very important canvases of his will be offered in October at Christie’s Madrid: Los melocotones y las rosas, a still life painted in 1956 (estimate: €250.000-350.000) and La salmantina, dated 1960 (estimate: €200.000-300.000.) Other highlights include art works by Manolo Valdés: Minna V dated 2006 (estimate: € 220.000-320.000), Matisse como pretexto from 1988, (estimate: €200.000-300.000) and two sculptures: La Infanta Margarita (estimate: €40.000-60.000) and Librería-Aparador (estimate: €250.000).

The sale will also include several works by Pablo Palazuelo, such as the diptych Virtus Marin VI, created in 1987 (estimate: € 150.000-250.000), and a work by Eduardo Chillida: Gravitación (estimate: €150.000-250.000) dated 1987 which is considered to be one the best lots. Among the highlights are two monumental sculptures by Martín Chirino which were created in the studio EE.UU.: Lady Lazarus (a homage to American writer Sylvia Plath, estimate: €60.000-80.000) and El viento (estimate: €25.000-35.000). Dans une île à 5 heures de l’après-midi is the title of the brightly colored painting on canvas glued on cardboard created by Joan Miró in 1960 (estimate: €130.000-195.000.) El Almuerzo (estimate: €100.000-150.000) is a cubist work painted in 1919-20 by María Blanchard, who sold exceptionally well in 2006.

For the first time this year, Christie’s will introduce an important section of works on paper. Of significant mention is Cour Nîmes (estimate: €40.000-60.000), the best of the four drawings by Miquel Barceló to be offered for sale. Retrato de Nonell by Pablo Picasso (estimate: €40.000-60.000) witnesses the close friendship between these artists during their Parisian years. Antonio López’s Estudio de dos espaldas (estimate: €30.000-50.000), a sketch which led to the series of sculptures and paintings entitled Hombre y Mujer, will be also included in this section. Óscar Domínguez’s Personajes con casa en llamas (estimate: € 10.000- 15.000) and José Gutiérrez Solana’s Verbena en la pradera de San Isidro (estimate: €20.000-30.000) will be offered on sale as well as works by Joan Miró, Eliseo Meifrén, Julio González, José Clará, Eduardo Chillida and Pablo Palazuelo.

Posted: 08|27|08 at 11:11 am. Filed under: Europe.