El Greco's Crucifixian Paintings Set Auction Record

ARTDAILY

El Greco record and unprecedented global bidding at Sotheby's Old Masters Evening Sale.  

UNITED KINGDOM---[An] unprecedented level of participation from new markets propelled Sotheby’s London Evening Sale of Old Master & British Paintings to £35,048,000. Collectors from 33 countries took part in the sale with record numbers from Asia and the Middle East. More than 400 years since El Greco executed Saint Dominic in Prayer in early 17th century Toledo, bidders from new markets battled tenaciously for this this powerfully expressive work which was appearing at auction for the first time. They drove the price to £9,154,500 (est. £3-5million), a new record for a Spanish Old Master and the highest price across London’s Old Masters sales this week. [link]

The sale featured two works by El Greco – the first time in living memory that two masterworks by the artist were offered in the same auction:

1. Saint Dominic in Prayer, £9,154,500/ $13,643,415 (est: £3.5-5m) set a record for a painting by a Spanish artist,
2. Christ on the Cross sold for £3,442,500 (est: £3-5m).