Giorgio Morandi, Fiori, cm30x20, 1952. Photo: Sotheby's.
MILAN.- The highlight of the sale was a small canvas (cm 30x20) by Giorgio Morandi, Fiori, 1952, which duplicated its estimate (190,000 -250,000) and sold at 420.750 Euro, after a brilliant competition from collectors.
The magical work, Interno metafisico con stabilimento, by Giorgio De Chirico, a “painting within a painting”, a fine example of the series of metaphysical interiors, achieved 216.750 Euro.
Also by de Chirico was the 1933 canvas, La Danse - when the painter worked as set and costume designer for “I Puritani” by Bellini for the 1933 edition of the Maggio Fiorentino - was bought by a private Italian collector.
The Alberto Burri works in the sale were particularly successful, demonstrating the good reaction by the market; the 1954 Sacco fetched 300,750 Euro and the 1954 Combustione sold at 276.750 Euro.
Bonalumi and Castellani, included in the catalogue with works dated from the Seventies to the Eighties, were highly disputed by national and international buyers.
From one of the protagonist of Arte Povera: a 1966 work by Paolini, Alceo, which sold, after lively competition from bidders, at 210.750 Euro, well over the 90,000-120,000 Euro estimate.
Superficie 151, the beautiful canvas by Giuseppe Capogrossi, dated 1954, achieved 90.750 Euro. In 1954 the artist had a dedicated room at the Venice Biennale and won the “Premio Editore Giulio Einaudi”.
Good results for the other two lots by Capogrossi (lot 133 and lot 135).To be noted: the Peggy Guggenheim in Venice is dedicating a retrospective to the artist (Sept. 2012-Feb.2013). Among the works by Gianni Colombo – all sold in the sale -,we mention Spazio Elastico – 16 quarati- a beautiful cm 120x120 square, sold at 58.350 Euro.
World Auction Record for a sculpture by Alik Cavaliere, sold at 75.150 Euro. A similar sculpture is exhibited in the collection of the brand New Museum of Milan, Le Gallerie d’Italia.