Souza Painting Leads Bukowskis Important Spring Sale
Success for Souza and Swedish Masters at the Season's Closing Live Auction
After successful auctions for modern and contemporary art and design, Bukowskis closes the live season with the Important Spring Sale – the largest live auction of the spring featuring the best of the best in art, furniture, and crafts.
On the second day of the auction, the focus shifted to art and significant works by Swedish masters such as Carl Larsson, Anders Zorn, and Carl Fredrik Hill. The auction's highlight was a painting by the Indian artist Francis Newton Souza, which attracted international bidders and far exceeded expectations.
Souza – the Season's Most Valuable Work
The Indian modernist Francis Newton Souza's Portrait of a Man from 1956 was the highlight of the day, selling for a final price of 16.5 million SEK. The painting exceeded expectations and is the highest paid work sold at auction in Sweden in 2024, and the second highest paid Souza work ever sold at auction in Europe.
Throughout his career, Souza experimented with various styles and expressions, but his figurative paintings with sharp black lines from the 1950s and 60s are the most sought after, as evidenced at Bukowskis' auction. With a large number of international bidders online and over the phone, the painting sold to applause in the auction hall at the spectacular final price.
High Final Prices for Swedish Classical Masters
In the classical Swedish section, artists such as Anders Zorn and Carl Larsson were represented with several works. Two of the main highlights were Anders Zorn's painting "From Sandhamn," which sold for 5.8 million SEK, and Carl Larsson's work "Målargården" from 1915, which sold for a final price of nearly 3.6 million SEK. Additional high listings were achieved for Carl Larsson's "Martina and the Food Basket" (studie till "Frukost i det gröna"), Anders Zorn's "Delsbostintan" and "Fröken Amelie Coyet", Stefan Johansson's "Julikväll," and Carl Fredrik Hill's paintings "Coastal Landscape, Luc-sur-Mer (towards Falaise de Lion-sur-Mer)" and "Seashore Luc-sur-Mer," the latter with a final price of 1.75 million SEK.
Other significant works in the section included John Bauer's "Han vilade icke ett ögonblick förrän han i skymningen nådde fram," an illustration for the fairy tale "Vingas krans."
Sculpted Highlights
Highlights in sculpture included "Dancing Maenad" by Carl Milles, which sold for a final price of nearly 1.2 million SEK after an exciting bidding process. Another work by Milles, the sculpture "Lek med fiskar" (Play with fishes), also exceeded its estimate.
From Classical to Pop Art
Top lots within in the classical international section included "River Scene" by Konstantin Fedorovic Yuon, which sold for a final price of nearly 3.5 million SEK. In the older international art category, we also saw works by Johan Laurentz Jensen and Jacob Philipp Hackert.
Highlights in prints and photography included "Leonardo da Vinci, The Annunciation" by Andy Warhol and "Faye Dunaway, Hollywood 1977" by Terry O’Neill.
During the spring live auctions for Contemporary Art and Design, Important Timepieces, and Modern Art & Design, Bukowskis has auctioned art, design, and watches totalling 254,4 million SEK (including fees) and achieved 35 listings above one million.
Consignment is ongoing for upcoming auctions. Please contact Bukowskis specialists today to sell at the best prices on the market.
Contact Bukowskis specialists
More results from the auction
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Highlights Art
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240 000 SEK
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80 000 - 100 000 SEK
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680 000 SEK
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50 000 SEK
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80 000 - 100 000 SEK
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140 000 SEK
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100 000 - 125 000 SEK
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400 000 SEK
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300 000 - 350 000 SEK
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580 000 SEK
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500 000 - 700 000 SEK
Hammer price
240 000 SEK
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8 000 - 10 000 SEK
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1 400 000 SEK
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1 200 000 - 1 500 000 SEK
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920 000 SEK
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500 000 - 700 000 SEK
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420 000 SEK
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300 000 - 350 000 SEK
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400 000 SEK
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400 000 - 500 000 SEK
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330 000 SEK
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25 000 - 30 000 SEK
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2 700 000 SEK
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500 000 - 600 000 SEK
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150 000 SEK
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150 000 - 200 000 SEK
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250 000 SEK
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200 000 - 300 000 SEK
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13 250 000 SEK
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1 500 000 - 2 000 000 SEK
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2 000 000 SEK
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500 000 - 700 000 SEK
Bukowskis is welcoming onsignments for our upcoming auctions Welcome to contact us today
Stockholm
Björn Extergren
Head of Consignment and Sales Department, Fine Art. Specialist Antique Furniture, Decorative Arts and Asian Ceramics
+46 (0)706 40 28 61
Stockholm
Andreas Rydén
Head Specialist, Art, Deputy Managing Director
+46 (0)728 58 71 39
Stockholm
Lena Rydén
Head of Art, Specialist Modern and 19th century Art
+46 (0)707 78 35 71
