Bacon Self-Portraits Fetch .5 Million at London Art Auction - 01-07-2008

A 1975 set of three self-portraits by Francis Bacon fetched 17.3 million pounds (.5 million) in London, the most expensive lot at Christie's International sale of contemporary art. Christie's 58-lot auction last night netted 86.2 million pounds, against the company's own low estimate of 80 million pounds. Eighty-three percent of the lots were sold. Bacon's piece was one of four trophy works -- the other three are by Lucian Freud, Jeff Koons and Lucio Fontana -- whose combined estimates represented half the auction's value. The Bacon was the only one that sold for much more than its top estimate.

Bloomberg.com

Hirst to bypass dealer in bid for 'democratic' auction sale - 20-06-2008

The Golden Calf" is part of a package of new works by Mr Hirst that will be sold at Sotheby's, which has unusually given a title to the sale: "Beautiful Inside My Head Forever". The works will address some of the artist's classic themes, such as butterflies, cancer cells and pills. Financial Times

Art sales: sailing into choppy waters? - 17-06-2008

Last week's Russian sales were not all plain-sailing. Bonhams started off with a £5.5 million sale, its highest total yet for Russian art, but nearly half of its 240 lots were unsold. Daily Telegraph