The Scream
On Wednesday 2nd May 2012 Sky News reported that one of the most famous works of art in the world was about to go on sale in New York. The Scream by Norwegian artist Edvard Munch was to go under the hammer at Sotheby's auction house in New York that evening and was due to fetch at least $80 million (£49.4 million). At the time, some experts believed it may sell for even more, which would make it amongst the most expensive works of art ever sold at auction.
Following a bidding war between no less than seven prospective buyers, the piece became the most expensive work of art ever sold at auction after being bought for $119.9m (£74m). The price of the painting which dates from 1895, rose past $100m (£61.8m) and the 800 - strong crowd inside the auction burst into applause.
One bidder who was taking instructions from a client on the phone hesitated as the painting got more expensive. The response by Tobias Meyer (head of Modern Art at the world acclaimed auction house) was to joke "Don't worry, for $99m, I've got all the time in the world!"
When the final bid was made, by an unnamed buyer over the telephone, the crowd gasped before the cheering and applauding as the gavel came down.
Until this sale the two most expensive pieces of art were Pablo Picasso's Nude "Green Leaves and Bust" which went for $106.5m (£65.6m) in May 2010 and Alberto Giacometti's "L'Homme Qui Marche I Bronze" which sold for $104.3m (£64.3m) in February 2010.
At Stort Books we have in excess of 900 books on art, ranging from biographies to a set of "Life and Works of ...", series of books which looks at genres of art as well as works of specific artsits such as Klimt, Manet, Goya and Renoir.
Contact us at val@stortbooks.com or give us a call on 07979 450871 for more details.
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