Christie’s Rockefeller sale in New York raised $646 million on its first evening, a record for the auction of a private collection, led by a Rose-Period Picasso.The Picasso fetched $115 million alone, and was one of seven works that sold for more than $30 million. All of the 44 lots sold. Christie’s said records were set for Monet, Matisse, Corot, Delacroix, Seguin, Morandi and Redon.The sale of the Peggy and David Rockefeller Collection will continue during the week with all estate proceeds helping charities that the couple supported during their lifetime. David Rockefeller was the chairman of Chase bank and the grandson of John D. Rockefeller. He died last year at the age of 101.The amount raised exceeded the presale estimate for the night of $490 million at hammer prices. It is already the largest charity auction ever, beating the $400 million for the collection of Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Berge in 2009 at Christie’s in Paris.Picasso’s “Fillette a la corbeille fleurie” (Young Girl With Basket of Flowers) from 1905 made $115,000,000 with fees. Bidding opened at $90 million. The work once belonged to Gertrude Stein, the American writer who was a friend of the artist. The painting was bought by the writer’s brother Leo Stein for just $30. The sale comes after several big-ticket prices for 1930s Picassos in recent months, particularly for portraits of his “golden muse” Marie-Therese Walter, and confirms demand for other periods of his work.Monet’s “Nympheas en fleur” made $84,687,500, and Matisse’s “Odalisque couchee aux magnolias” $80,750,000. The auction house said there were buyers from around the world, with some relatively new purchasers from Asia. While no buyers were named, some of the bidders were known to be public museums. It is not known if guarantees were placed on any of the works. The sale follows displays of the top lots in London, Paris and Beijing with an online sale of smaller collectibles. http://www.blouinartinfo.comFounder Louise Blouin
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