December 2017 Auction Highlights: Banksy, JFK, Basquiat, and More
The global art market concluded 2017 on a high note, with contemporary pieces performing well and Old Masters alongside ancient art experiencing significant growth. Christie's New York achieved a record-breaking sale of Leonardo da Vinci's Salvator Mundi for $450 million in November, marking the highest amount ever paid for an artwork. At Sotheby's London, a John Constable piece fetched over £2.5 million. In December, Heritage Auctions sold a 1955 painting of John F. Kennedy for $162,500 on December 2, while Forum Auctions held its inaugural Banksy auction in New York on December 12, generating over £1 million. Additionally, on December 12, Phillips sold photographs by Henri Cartier-Bresson for $2 million, and Sotheby's Evening Sale in Paris on December 6 totaled €43 million.
Key facts
- Salvator Mundi by Leonardo da Vinci sold for $450 million at Christie's New York in November 2017.
- John Constable painting sold for over £2.5 million at Sotheby's London, doubling its estimate.
- JFK painting from 1955 sold for $162,500 at Heritage Auctions on December 2, 2017.
- First-ever Banksy-only auction held by Forum Auctions in New York on December 12, 2017, raising over £1 million.
- Henri Cartier-Bresson photographs from Peter Fetterman collection sold for $2 million at Phillips New York on December 12, 2017.
- Sotheby's Paris Evening Sale on December 6, 2017, reached €43 million, up 40% from 2016.
- Jean-Michel Basquiat's Thin in the Old (1986) sold for over €3 million at Sotheby's Paris.
- Christie's design auction on December 14, 2017, realized nearly $7 million across 63 lots.
Entities
Artists
- Banksy
- John F. Kennedy
- Henri Cartier-Bresson
- Jean-Michel Basquiat
- Diego Giacometti
- François-Xavier
- Leonardo da Vinci
- John Constable
Institutions
- Christie's
- Sotheby's
- Heritage Auctions
- Forum Auctions
- Phillips
- Artribune
Locations
- New York
- London
- Paris
- Nevada