ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Impressionist and Modern Art Sales Heat Up London Ahead of Contemporary Auctions

market-auction · 2026-05-05

On June 18 and 19, 2013, Christie's and Sotheby's will conduct significant auctions for Impressionist and Modern art in London. Christie's evening auction showcases 44 lots, with a total estimate ranging from £52 to £75.8 million. Leading the sale is Wassily Kandinsky's "Studie zu Improvisation 3" (1909), valued at £12-16 million. Joan Miró's piece, "La tige de la fleur rouge pousse vers la lune" (1952), carries an estimate of £5.2-7 million, while Amedeo Modigliani's "Paul Guillaume" (1916) is estimated at £5-7 million. Sotheby's auction, projected at £75 million, features Claude Monet's "Le Palais Contarini" (1908) estimated at £15-20 million and a complete set of Picasso's "Suite Vollard," valued at £1.4-1.8 million, along with notable works by Mondrian and Monet.

Key facts

  • Christie's Impressionist and Modern Art Evening Sale on June 18, 2013, in London features 44 lots with total estimates of £52-75.8 million.
  • Kandinsky's 'Studie zu Improvisation 3' (1909) is estimated at £12-16 million, potentially matching the artist's $23 million record.
  • Joan Miró's 'La tige de la fleur rouge pousse vers la lune' (1952) appears at auction for the first time, estimated £5.2-7 million.
  • Modigliani's portrait of dealer Paul Guillaume (1916) is the only one of four still in private hands, estimated £5-7 million.
  • Christie's launches a new annual auction of Picasso ceramics with 172 lots, including 'Visage Tourmenté' (22-karat gold, estimated £100-150,000).
  • Sotheby's Impressionist and Modern Art Evening Sale on June 19 is estimated at £75 million, led by Monet's 'Le Palais Contarini' (1908) at £15-20 million.
  • Sotheby's offers a complete set of Picasso's 'Suite Vollard' (100 engravings, 1/50, each signed) estimated at £1.4-1.8 million.
  • Monet's 'Le Pont de bois' (1872), formerly owned by Édouard Manet, is estimated at £4-6 million at Sotheby's.

Entities

Artists

  • Wassily Kandinsky
  • Joan Miró
  • Amedeo Modigliani
  • Pablo Picasso
  • Claude Monet
  • Auguste Rodin
  • Marc Chagall
  • Piet Mondrian
  • Alexander Calder
  • François Hugo
  • Jacqueline Roque
  • Paul Guillaume
  • Édouard Manet
  • Adolph Gottlieb
  • Jackson Pollock

Institutions

  • Christie's
  • Sotheby's
  • Pierre Matisse Gallery
  • Musée de l'Orangerie
  • Museo del Novecento
  • Toledo Museum of Art
  • British Museum
  • Artribune

Locations

  • London
  • United Kingdom
  • New York
  • United States
  • Tel Aviv
  • Israel
  • Venice
  • Italy
  • Ohio

Sources