CULTURE

Sotheby’s puts Greek art from 1800s to present under hammer

Sotheby’s «Greek Sale» – one of the auction house’s regular, specialized sales – will include 94 works of Greek art spanning the late 19th century to today. The sale will be held at Sotheby’s London premises on New Bond Street today and, this time, is not preceded by an Athens preview. Among the works, Theofilos’s painting «Karaiskakis Chasing Kioutachis» depicts an important event from Greece’s struggle for independence in the early 19th century and shows Karaiskakis chasing the Turkish Pasha against the background of the Acropolis. It is a monumental work (it measures over 1 meter in length and 2 meters in height) that has been in the hands of a private collector since it was first painted in 1931. It is estimated at 179,000- 268,000 euros. Another work singled out for its uniqueness is the large painting of a mermaid by Yiannis Tsarouchis. It is in his typical style, which combines elements of Byzantine, ancient Greek and Greek folk art. It is estimated at 149,000-223,000 euros. The painting «Young Man Reading» by Yiannis Bouzianis is also considered significant by Sotheby’s auctioneers. The painting was commissioned by Heinrich Barchfield, the patron and agent of Bouzianis, and is estimated at 179,000-268,000 euros. Following the Sotheby’s sale, Bonham’s auctioneers will hold their own Greek sale – the seventh consecutive auction of Greek works – in mid-December, also in London. It is expected to be a large sale of about 200 works, mostly of Greek art but also some works by foreign artists on Greek themes. Drawn from private art collections, the works include «Conversation» by Yiannis Moralis, one of the largest works by the artist to have ever appeared at auction. The painting was made in 1981 and its high estimate is 223,900 euros. The same high estimate is accorded to «Sunset by the Seashore,» a work by the great late 19th century maritime painter Constantinos Volanakis (one of the favorite artists of the Greek auctions). A preview of the works is scheduled in Athens at the Epistrofi Gallery (6-8 Taki St, in Psyrri) from November 28 to December 1. A London preview will follow from December 9-12. For more detailed information, log on to www.sothebys.com.

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