Three artworks from Hermann David Salomon Corrodi smashed estimates at a Chicago sale on May 2, with one work achieving a 1,730% increase.

Hermann Corrodi's Randi

The exquisite piece, entitled Randi, was sold as one lot with another complimentary work for an impressive $219,600 against an estimate of just $8,000-12,000.

Two further examples of Corrodi's work also brought excellent results, with Voyage through the Ruins making $122,000 and On the Lookout achieving $51,240 against identical estimates.

Corrodi was an Italian painter of the late 19th century, whose style is consistent with that of the Orientalist movement of the time. Orientalist works have enjoyed huge success at auction recently, with Sotheby's own Orientalist sale realising £5.5m ($8.8m) in London in April.

The highest bids of the auction went to two pieces from William Aldolphe Bouguereau. Le Gouter, or The Taste, starred as top lot, selling for $688,000 against an estimate of $300,000-500,000, while Psyche (L'Extase) followed bringing $514,000.

May is already looking like a good month for the artist's work, with another of Bouguereau's magnificent oil paintings selling for $2.3m at Sotheby's, against a high estimate of $700,000.

Konstantin Egorovich Makovsky's Woman in White with Hat also made a considerable increase on its estimate of $30,000-50,000, with a final price of $292,000 further illustrating the current selling power of Russian works at auction.

Russian works are expected to see further success later this month with Bonhams' Russian sale, which will feature two works from Zinaida Evgenievna Serebriakova, the top-selling female Russian artist.

Paul Fraser Collectibles continues to bring you the latest news from the art world. Investors will want to view our great range of art items on offer for some superb opportunities to improve their portfolio.