Art Market Magazine - Visit zone-secure.net

THE MAGAZINE AUCTION RESULTS INTERNATIONAL
$866,500
A dear Rhinoceros...
Six million dollars for 62 prints was the final result for this sale staged on 29 January by Christie's. It
consisted of one collection containing nothing but impressions, all by a single artist: Albert Dürer – a
famous name in art history if ever there was one. In addition, several of them boasted illustrious
provenances. Just as at the time when the animal arrived in Europe, the celebrated "Rhinoceros"
(illustrated) aroused keen enthusiasm, finally going for $866,500 – and multiplying the low estimate
by eight! Dürer never actually saw one of these, but his representation, based on a sketch, was an
inspiration to artists right up to the end of the 18th century. "Saint Eustache" went for $722,500,
while, "spotted" at the very instant of their temptation, "Adam and Eve" fired the bidding up to
$662,500. It is worth noting that some of the Master's prints are still affordable, as witness "Sol Lustitiae"
($15,000) and "Christ on the Mount of Olives" ($7,500). X. N.
74 GAZETTE DROUOT INTERNATIONAL I N° 23