Finarte's Photography Auction Sets World Record for Franco Fontana, Achieves 95% Sell-Through

Finarte's recent photography auction in Milan achieved a 95% sell-through rate by value, demonstrating robust demand for high-quality, rare works. The sale was dominated by Hiroshi Sugimoto's 1980 'Caribbean Sea' from his 'Seascapes' series, which sold for €40,640 as the top lot. A new world record was set for Italian photographer Franco Fontana, with his 1987 'Paesaggio' selling for €20,320. Desirée Dolron made her Italian auction debut with a 2002 work from the 'Xteriors' series fetching €22,860, signaling expanding collector interest in international contemporary artists. Luigi Ghirri's rare 1987/1989 portfolio 'Il profilo delle nuvole' sold for €15,240, while Gianni Berengo Gardin saw 15 of 17 lots sell. Paolo Ventura's 2016 work 'Confesso a mio fratello della mia felicità' reached €16,510. Steve McCurry's works were all contested, with 'Horse and Two Towers' (2002) selling for €9,525. Nick Brandt's 'Elephant Exodus' sold for €5,715, attracting collectors with its ecological message and formal perfection. Davide Battaglia, head of the department, noted the auction's results are comparable to major international sales, indicating photography's transition from a niche sector to a solid asset class.