It went to a client bidding on the telephone represented by Irina Stepanova, head of Sotheby’s Moscow office. The painting had been owned by the same family since it was bought in 1928 “with the paint still wet,” according to Simon Shaw, co-head of Sotheby’s Impressionist & Modern Art Worldwide. PhotoTo be sure, Impressionist and modern art remains a shrinking, less sexy category, compared to the enduring craze for contemporary art. But as the Sotheby’s sale attests, there is still a market for older art, however diminished the appetite may be. The Massachusetts Appeals Court on Friday blocked the anticipated auction of art from the museum, and the Moore and the Picabia were withdrawn.

Source: New York Times November 15, 2017 03:45 UTC