Alberto Giacometti
L’homme au doigt (Pointing Man)
Christie’s to auction Giacometti’s ‘L’homme au doigt’ On May 2015, Christie’s will auction Alberto Giacometti’s iconic ‘L’homme au doigt (Pointing Man)’, estimated in the region of $130 million.]]>
April 17, 2015, source: Christie’s
Cast in bronze and standing whippet-thin at five feet ten inches, this dynamic and powerful figure is widely recognized as one of the most important sculptural achievements of the Modern era, created by the greatest master of the medium. It has never before been offered at auction. The sculpture will be featured in Christie’s May 11 sale, Looking Forward to the Past, at an estimate in the region of $130 million, a reflection of the rarity and significance of this extraordinary work of art.
Instantly recognizable and awe-inspiring to view in person, “Pointing Man” is among the great masterpieces in the collections of New York’s Museum of Modern Art and London’s Tate Gallery. Giacometti conceived the work in 1947 and made just six casts of it plus one artist’s proof. Today, four are in major museums; the remaining are in foundation collections and private hands. The extreme rarity of the work is underscored by the fact that the cast to be offered at Christie’s is believed to be the only bronze version of Pointing Man that Giacometti painted by hand in order to heighten its expressive impact, making this a singular opportunity for the world’s top collectors to view and compete for this exceptional work.
Christie’s previously announced that Pablo Picasso’s 1955 masterpiece Les Femmes d’Alger (Version O), the artist’s tour-de-force homage to the great 19th century master Eugène Delacroix, will headline ‘Looking Forward to the Past’, a special Evening Sale comprised of a mix of important works from the Impressionist, Modern, Post-War and Contemporary periods. The painting is estimated in the region of $140 million, making it a contender for the most valuable painting ever offered at auction.
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Giacometti sells for $104.3 million, auction record for a work of Art (February 2010)
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