Klimt’s Final Masterpiece Breaks Auction Record In Europe With $94.3M Sale
There’s a new record holder for the most expensive painting to ever sell at auction in Europe: Gustav Klimt’s Dame mit Fächer (Lady with a Fan), otherwise known as the Austrian artist’s “last masterpiece.”
The piece, which was created between 1917 and 1918, was recently sold at Sotheby’s London Modern and Contemporary Evening Auction for an astonishing £74 million (US$94.3 million). In total, including additional fees, the final price exceeded £85.3 million (US$108 million).
#AuctionUpdate Gustav Klimt’s last great masterpiece ‘Dame mit Fächer’ (1917-18) soars to $108.4m / £85.3m at #SothebysLondon, setting a new auction record for the most valuable painting ever sold at auction in Europe. #SothebysModern pic.twitter.com/0v4DGxdTf4
— Sotheby's (@Sothebys) June 27, 2023
According to ARTnews, the record previously belonged to Alberto Giacometti’s Walking Man I, which fetched US$104.3 million in 2010. CNN noted that Dame mit Fächer also set a new record for Klimt, beating Birch Forest, which sold for US$104.6 million last year.
Interestingly, Sotheby’s revealed that the famed painting was dubbed as Klimt’s “last masterpiece” as it was still on an easel in the artist’s studio when he passed away from a stroke in 1918. This was the first time in 30 years that the artwork was put up for sale.
Following a 10 min bidding battle between 4 bidders at #SothebysLondon, Gustav Klimt’s final masterpiece ‘Dame mit Fächer’ (Lady with a Fan) established a new auction record for Klimt and became the most valuable work of art ever sold at auction in Europe: https://t.co/pWguIRHn6d
— Sotheby's (@Sothebys) June 27, 2023
