BIGGEST WORK BY BOUZIANIS TO APPEAR AT AUCTION AT BONHAMS GREEK SALE

MASTERPIECES BY LYTRAS, POULAKAS AND MALEAS EXPECTED TO MAKE RECORD PRICES

 

The biggest work ever to appear at auction by the major Greek expressionist painter Georgios Bouzianis entitled Frau mit Tisch und Stuhl, measuring 138 x 105 cm, is expected to sell for £200,000 – 300,000 at Bonhams 16^th Greek Sale at New Bond Street on Tuesday 18^th May. The biannual sale features a mixture of paintings and sculpture by some of the most famous 19^th century, modern and contemporary Greek artists. 145 lots are being sold with prices ranging from £2,000 - £300,000.

               

This sale - the first Greek Sale of 2010 - follows last year’s remarkable performance totalling over £7 million, which further established Bonhams place at the forefront of the Greek art market in the UK.

 

Among the most important lots is Matins by Nikiforos Lytras (estimate £200,000 – 300,000), which has been shown in four exhibitions worldwide including the artist’s retrospective show in 1933; a beautiful seascape by Ioannis Poulakas entitled Sailing ship and steamer (estimate £150,000 – 200,000); and St Marko Church, Tinos by Nickolaos Lytras (estimate £150,000 – 200,000), which was the image used by the National Gallery of Athens to illustrate his retrospective exhibition in 2008, and features on this sale’s catalogue cover.

 

Highlights also include one of the most significant works by Nikos Engonopoulos to have ever come to auction, Apparition de Rigas Pheraios en Eubée (estimate £150,000 - 200,000), which was exhibited at the Venice Biennale in 1964; and a painting of the East entitled Assouan by Constantinos Maleas (estimate £50,000 – 70,000), who was the best-selling artist in Bonhams’ Greek Sale in November.

 

The auction also features outstanding sculpture by Costas Coulendianos, Georgios Zongolopoulos and Clearhos Loukopoulos.

 

Michaela Vergottis, London’s Greek Specialist, comments: “We are excited to be presenting a unique selection of the most highly important Greek art ever to be offered for sale.”

 

 

Bonhams

Bonhams, founded in 1793, is one of the world's oldest and largest auctioneers of fine art and antiques. The present company was formed by the merger in November 2001 of Bonhams & Brooks and Phillips Son and Neale UK. In August 2002, the company acquired Butterfields, the principal firm of auctioneers on the West Coast of America. Today, Bonhams offers more sales than any of its rivals, through two major salerooms in London: New Bond Street, and Knightsbridge, and a further five throughout the UK. Sales are also held in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Carmel, New York and Boston in the USA; Toronto, Canada; and France, Monaco, Hong Kong and Dubai. Bonhams has a worldwide network of offices and regional representatives in 25 countries offering sales advice and valuation services in 57 specialist areas. By the end of 2009, Bonhams had become UK market leaders in ten key specialist collecting areas. For a full listing of upcoming sales, plus details of Bonhams specialist departments, go to www.bonhams.com