Twombly, Bacon Confirm Strength of Contemporary Market

Launch Slideshow

Cy Twombly’s Untitled (New York City), his rhapsody in blue loops from 1968 sold for $36.7 million, the top lot of the Contemporary Art Evening Auction. Close behind was Francis Bacon’s arresting double self-portrait from 1970, which brought $35 million after competitive bidding. The packed salesroom saw spirited bidding for a rainbow-hued Alexander Calder mobile from the collection of legendary MoMA curator Alfred Barr that generated $8.3 million, far beyond its $4 million high estimate, and an artist record for Sam Francis, whose lyrical Summer #1, 1957, realized $11.8 million. Click ahead for the top 10 results from the sale, which totalled $242 million.

View full results

Twombly, Bacon Confirm Strength of Contemporary Market

/
Close