ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Il Ponte auction sets 7 records for Italian artists in Milan

market-auction · 2026-05-05

Milanese auction house Il Ponte achieved strong results in its Modern and Contemporary Art sale, totaling €5.7 million with a 92.7% sell-through rate. Seven new auction records were set for Italian artists: Bruno Munari (€190,000), Aldo Galli (€55,000), Carmelo Cappello (€37,500), Giangiacomo Spadari (€32,500), Carlo Battaglia (€28,750), Marfa Futurista (€13,750), and Ideo Pantaleoni (€11,250). The top lot was Fernand Léger at €275,000, followed by Jesus Rafael Soto (€256,250), Giacomo Balla (€162,500), Lucio Fontana (€137,500), Giuseppe Santomaso (€137,500), Christo (€125,000), Giorgio Morandi (€107,500), and Vincenzo Agnetti (€100,000). Department director Freddy Battino noted that results for Galli, Pantaleoni, Rho, Munari, and Reggiani reflect growing collector interest in Italian abstraction, while strong performances by Tano Festa (€50,000) and Mario Schifano (€32,500) confirm a favorable trend for Italian Pop Art. The sale underscores the role of mid-sized Italian auction houses in supporting overlooked domestic artists.

Key facts

  • Il Ponte auction total: €5.7 million
  • 92.7% of lots sold
  • 7 new auction records for Italian artists
  • Bruno Munari record: €190,000
  • Aldo Galli record: €55,000
  • Carmelo Cappello record: €37,500
  • Giangiacomo Spadari record: €32,500
  • Carlo Battaglia record: €28,750
  • Marfa Futurista record: €13,750
  • Ideo Pantaleoni record: €11,250
  • Top lot: Fernand Léger at €275,000
  • Jesus Rafael Soto at €256,250
  • Giacomo Balla at €162,500
  • Lucio Fontana at €137,500
  • Giuseppe Santomaso at €137,500
  • Christo at €125,000
  • Giorgio Morandi at €107,500
  • Vincenzo Agnetti at €100,000
  • Tano Festa at €50,000
  • Mario Schifano at €32,500
  • Freddy Battino commented on trends

Entities

Artists

  • Bruno Munari
  • Aldo Galli
  • Carmelo Cappello
  • Giangiacomo Spadari
  • Carlo Battaglia
  • Marfa Futurista
  • Ideo Pantaleoni
  • Fernand Léger
  • Jesus Rafael Soto
  • Christo
  • Giacomo Balla
  • Lucio Fontana
  • Giuseppe Santomaso
  • Giorgio Morandi
  • Vincenzo Agnetti
  • Tano Festa
  • Mario Schifano
  • Amedeo Modigliani
  • Jean-Michel Basquiat
  • Johnny Depp

Institutions

  • Il Ponte
  • Christie's
  • Sotheby's
  • Artribune

Locations

  • Milan
  • Italy
  • London
  • United Kingdom

Sources