An early William Adolphe Bouguereau (1825-1905) painting, last seen in public 50 years ago, has beaten its high estimate by 30.4% at Christie's 19th Century European Paintings auction.
As we predicted earlier in the month, the clamour for works by the French artist sent bids for Idylle: famille antique comfortably in excess of the $600,000 valuation, eventually settling on a $782,500 hammer price.
It was the top lot at the sale on April 23 in New York, which realised $6.2m in all.
 Bouguereau’s for Idylle: famille antique sold for $782,500 |
Rue Royale, Paris by Louis Marie de Schryver was the second highest seller. The 1898 work made $662,500, 47.2% beyond the $450,000 high estimate, setting a new auction world record for the French artist in the process.
There was also a new auction world record for Dutch painter Arnoldus Bloemers, whose Lilacs, Peonies, Tulips, Roses, Irises and other Flowers with Fruit and a Bird's Nest on a Marble Ledge made $218,500 against a $180,000 high valuation.
Boulevard Poissonnière en automne by Jean Béraud, which had been expected to bring $300,000-500,000, made $506,500.
Christie's James Hastie commented: "We are extremely pleased with the result of today's sale of 19th Century European Paintings, which achieved two world auction records among the top ten results for works by Louis Marie de Schryver and Arnoldus Bloemers.
"The sale witnessed deep bidding across the board from America, Europe and Asia, resulting in all of the top lots exceeding their high estimates."
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