A Claude Monet painting of poplars sold for $22.5 million at a Christie's auction in New York on Wednesday, while a Maurice de Vlaminck smashed records for the artist by also selling for $22.5 million.
The works were among the better earners at the impressionist and modern art spring sale which totaled $156 million, falling below the low end of the overall pre-sale estimate.
Monet's "Les Peupliers," painted in 1891, had been estimated to sell for $20 million to $30 million. Another Monet, "Iris Mauves," was estimated to sell for between $15 and $20 million dollars, but found no buyer in tepid trading.
De Vlaminck's 1905 "Paysage de banlieue" was a hit, selling for more than double the previous world record for the French artist of $10.8 million.
"Les femmes d'Alger," painted in 1955 by Pablo Picasso, sold for $21.3 million, at the low end of the pre-sale estimate.
On Tuesday, rival Sotheby's saw $170.5 million in sales, within the pre-sale estimate range. Only three quarters of lots found buyers, with Pablo Picasso's "Femmes lisant" at $21.4 million and a Gauguin sculpture the main highlights.
Next week, the two auction giants will hold their spring contemporary art sales.
