Sotheby’s 25 Most Memorable Instagrams of 2019

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#AuctionUpdate Moments ago in our #NYC salesroom, Mark Rothko’s Untitled, 1960 sold for $50.1 million following a battle between four bidders. The work was offered on behalf of @sfmoma, sold to benefit the institution’s Acquisitions Fund. An important work completed at the apex of Rothko’s artistic powers, Untitled, 1960 is one of just 19 paintings completed by the artist that year, and is distinguished further by its connection to Peggy Guggenheim, preeminent philanthropist and patron of the 20th century. #SothebysContemporary #MarkRothko #Rothko

A post shared by Sotheby's (@sothebys) on May 16, 2019 at 4:55pm PDT

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Gaspard Gobaut, ‘Notre-Dame de Paris’, 19th century Our hearts are with Paris 🇫🇷

A post shared by Sotheby's (@sothebys) on Apr 16, 2019 at 7:43am PDT

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When you and the squad turn up to play ⛳️ - In his finest garb of silks, lace and a feathered hat, surrounded by his toys, this portrait of a little boy by Jan Anthonisz van Ravestyn paints a quintessential image of childhood in the upper echelons of 16th and 17th-century Netherlandish society. - Portrait of a Young Golfer is currently on display in our New Bond Street galleries until Monday, ahead of the Old Masters Sale on 4 and 5 December. - #Sothebysmasters #holeinone #Fridayfeeling #servinglooks #ootd #💁‍♂️

A post shared by Sotheby's (@sothebys) on Nov 29, 2019 at 2:42am PST

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Banksy goes bananas 🍌 Tonight in London, Banksy’s ‘Devolved Parliament’ of primates sold for £10million in Sotheby’s Frieze Week Evening Sale of Contemporary Art. Watch the full bidding battle via the link in our bio. #SothebysContemporary #Banksy #friezeweek #contemporaryart

A post shared by Sotheby's (@sothebys) on Oct 3, 2019 at 4:25pm PDT

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Why choose one when you can have all nine?! These stunning diamond and gemstone rings are just a few of the 300+ highlights in our sale of Fine Jewels in #NYC on 25 September. Head to @sothebysjewels to see more dazzling pieces and register to bid at sothebys.com/finejewels. #diamond #gemstones

A post shared by Sotheby's (@sothebys) on Sep 24, 2019 at 10:23am PDT

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*Newsflash* Tonight in our Hong Kong salesroom, Chinese émigré artist Sanyu’s final masterpiece ‘Nu’ sold for HK$198 million / US$25.2 million, establishing a new world auction record for the artist. Painted at the height of his artistic maturity, this last nude by Sanyu – and one of the largest he ever painted – stands as a definitive expression of his singular vision. Our autumn sale series continues in #HongKong through 8 October – stay tuned for updates! #SothebysAsianArt #Sanyu #nude

A post shared by Sotheby's (@sothebys) on Oct 5, 2019 at 7:07am PDT

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Today’s #FridayFeeling comes courtesy of famously #dapper and beloved actor Bill Nighy, shot by renowned #portrait and #fashion #photographer Lorenzo Agius in 2005 – to be offered as part of our Made in Britain exhibition and auction in London next month. 🥂 🍾 #SothebysModBrit #LorenzoAgius #BillNighy #ChampagneTime

A post shared by Sotheby's (@sothebys) on Feb 15, 2019 at 4:17am PST

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Head over heels in Geneva! From today until Friday in our gallery, the first solo show in Switzerland of works by the celebrated French sculptor, Philippe Hiquily. A key figure in this field during the second half of the 20th century, Hiquily worked alongside César, Germaine Richier, Jean Tinguely, Alexander Calder and Alberto Giacometti. Our three-day selling exhibition in Geneva - in collaboration with Galerie Loft - showcases sculpture, furniture and jewellery using materials such as reclaimed sheet steel and polished brass, offering a perfect snapshot of three recurring themes for Hiquily: the female form; the exploration of movement and his unique sense of humour. Entrance is free and we are open 10am - 5:30pm! Shown here are Grande Galipette, 1988 (2007 edition); L’Aurige, 1997; Girouettes « Marbella-Shanghai », 1963-2009 (2009 edition) and Grande Echassière, 1997 (2010 edition) #sothebysgeneva #geneva #philippehiquily #sculpture @galerieloft #galerieloft

A post shared by Sotheby's (@sothebys) on Nov 27, 2019 at 7:23am PST

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‘The mouth is the gateway to the mind’ – @thetylershields. Dubbed the Andy #Warhol of his generation, Tyler Shields is recognised as ‘#Hollywood’s favourite #photographer’. ‘Mouthful’ is one of the most important photographs of his career, the outcome of a quest to take a perfect photo of the mouth. Unlike his usual practice of perfecting one image, Shields was looking for 16 great shots, testing #lipsticks and poses on film stocks for a week before he was satisfied with the final result. Bid on this compelling image in our Erotic: Passion & Desire Online sale, open until 12 February and currently on view in our #London galleries. 💋 #SothebysErotic #TylerShields #RedLipstick

A post shared by Sotheby's (@sothebys) on Feb 6, 2019 at 4:33am PST

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Painted during a series of three trips to London from 1899-1901, Claude Monet’s Charing Cross Bridge is a sumptuous example from the artist’s seminal London series. Composed from the vantage point of his room at the Savoy Hotel, Monet found the view particularly advantageous in observing the London landscape and onset of the city’s fog. The resulting paintings of Charing Cross Bridge and Monet’s entire London series are among the most quintessential and instantly recognizable Impressionist paintings. Leading a collection of Impressionist and Modern masterworks to be offered across our marquee November auctions in #NewYork, this striking canvas will be on view in our York Avenue galleries beginning 1 November. 🌁 🌉 #SothebysImpMod #Monet #London #bridge #impressionism

A post shared by Sotheby's (@sothebys) on Oct 9, 2019 at 8:09am PDT

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We’re putting the final touches on ‘Treasures from Chatsworth: The Exhibition’ before officially opening tomorrow! Following its journey across the Atlantic to #NYC, here is a sneak peek at the unpacking of ‘A Veiled Vestal Virgin’ by #RaffaelleMonti. Stop by our #NewYork galleries this summer through 18 September to discover more than 40 pieces from the legendary #DevonshireCollection at @chatsworthofficial in an immersive #exhibition by Creative Director @DavidKorins, whose work includes set design for #Broadway’s @hamiltonmusical and @dearevanhansen. Free of charge and open to the public, ‘Treasures from Chatsworth: The Exhibition’ is presented by @roccofortehotels. Click the link in our bio to learn more. #Chatsworth #TreasuresFromChatsworth #ChatsworthHouse #davidkorins

A post shared by Sotheby's (@sothebys) on Jun 27, 2019 at 12:47pm PDT

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Pablo Picasso’s ‘Mousquetaire à la pipe’ from 1968 is a spectacular example of a theme that defined the last years of the artist’s life. The iconography of the musketeer was indicative of Picasso's self-awareness in the years before his death – gone from his paintings were the veiled references to the artist as the victorious gladiator or centaur, with the arrogant musketeer believed to be a more appropriate avatar. The painting is an early highlight of our Impressionist & Modern Art sales this May in #NYC. #SothebysImpMod #Picasso #PabloPicasso

A post shared by Sotheby's (@sothebys) on Mar 23, 2019 at 1:53pm PDT

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Why choose one when you can have them all? 💍💍💍💍These cushion, emerald, pear and step-cut #diamond rings are highlights from our Important Jewels auction in #NYC on 6 June. Which one is your favorite? @sothebysjewels #SothebysJewels

A post shared by Sotheby's (@sothebys) on May 26, 2019 at 10:35am PDT

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💃🏻 This exceptional example of Henri Toulouse-Lautrec’s iconic ‘Moulin Rouge - La Goulue’ – the artist’s first poster and first lithograph – will highlight our spring sale of Prints & Multiples this month in #NYC. Follow along this week for more pivotal printmaking by 20th century titans including #Warhol, #DeKooning, #Matisse and more – and make plans to visit us on York Avenue when they go on public exhibition beginning 25 April. #SothebysPrints #HenriToulouseLautrec #Lautrec #MoulinRouge #Printstagram

A post shared by Sotheby's (@sothebys) on Apr 11, 2019 at 4:52pm PDT

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NEWSFLASH: Moments ago in our packed NYC salesroom, Claude Monet’s ‘Meules’ from 1890 — one of art history’s most evocative images – sold for $110.7 million. The result marks a new world auction record for any work by Claude Monet, and the first work of Impressionist art to cross the $100 million threshold at auction. ‘Meules’ is one of only four works from Monet’s acclaimed Haystacks series to come to auction this century, and one of only eight examples remaining in private hands. The other 17 examples reside in distinguished museum collections, including The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, the Musée d’Orsay, Paris and six in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. #SothebysImpMod #ClaudeMonet #Monet #Impressionism #sothebysbreakingground

A post shared by Sotheby's (@sothebys) on May 14, 2019 at 4:46pm PDT

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What are you pinking about? This 10.64 carat fancy vivid purplish pink diamond ring is leading the #HongKong Magnificent Jewels and Jadeite Autumn Sale. (Estimate HK$150-200 million). Visit @sothebysjewels to view more highlights of the sale. #SothebysHK #SothebysJewels #Diamond #PinkDiamond #FancyVivid #DiamondRing

A post shared by Sotheby's (@sothebys) on Sep 28, 2019 at 7:24pm PDT

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A hymn to the beauty of flesh: Jenny Saville’s towering three-metre ‘Juncture’ is at once monumental and astonishingly delicate, imposing and impossibly vulnerable. It is a work that cannot be ignored; female flesh in abundance on an utterly giant scale. The work takes a pointedly feminist look at the art historical genre of the nude, and turns the table on the traditional dynamic of male artist and female subject – by painting herself, she is at once the object of scrutiny and the artist in the seat of control. When the work appears as a star of Sotheby’s Contemporary Evening Auction in #London on Tuesday, it will be offered with the highest estimate ever placed on a work by a living female artist. #SothebysContemporary #contemporaryart #jennysaville

A post shared by Sotheby's (@sothebys) on Mar 2, 2019 at 2:16am PST

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How do you like your eggs? 🍳 - As a picture of an egg becomes the #MostLikedPhoto on Instagram, we’re taking a look back at some of our favourite eggs from Sotheby’s salerooms... - Lucian Freud, ‘Four Eggs on a Plate’, 2002. Gabriel Germain Joncherie, ‘Still Life of Eggs Cooking on a Stove’, 19th century. Dutch School, ‘A Still Life with Eggs’, 20th century. Antoine Vollon, ‘Nature morte aux oeufs’, 19th century. Elephant Bird Egg, 17th century. Lucio Fontana, ‘Concetto Spaziale, La Fine di Dio’, 1963 - #LiketheEgg #EggSoldiers #EggGang #EggsinArt #Eggcellent @world_record_egg

A post shared by Sotheby's (@sothebys) on Jan 14, 2019 at 8:42am PST

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Watch as bidders battled for Pablo Picasso’s ‘Femme au chien,’ which set a new record high for a 1960s era Picasso when it achieved $54.9 million during last night’s Impressionist & Modern Art Evening Sale in #NYC. Having remained in the same private collection for nearly 30 years, ‘Femme au chien’ from 1962 depicts Jacqueline Roque, the artist’s second wife who stayed with him until his death in 1973, alongside Picasso’s Afghan hound, Kaboul. #SothebysImpMod #auctionrecord #picasso #sothebysbreakingground

A post shared by Sotheby's (@sothebys) on May 15, 2019 at 6:41pm PDT

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Welcome to the wonderful universe of husband-and-wife design duo Les Lalanne, laid ‘bear’ in our Paris galleries as it has never been seen before. The exhibition is open to the public until 5pm on Wednesday 23 October, ahead of two dedicated auctions. #SothebysParis #UniversLalanne #SothebysDesign #SothebysCollections #Lalanne #ClaudeLalanne #FrancoisXavierLalanne #LesLalanne #Design #SothebysLalanne #Menagerie

A post shared by Sotheby's (@sothebys) on Oct 21, 2019 at 4:15am PDT

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Happy 90th birthday to Yayoi Kusama! We're celebrating this towering figure in contemporary art with a look at her extraordinary life. Swipe to watch a clip from the latest episode of Expert Voices with Heather Lenz – director and producer of the critically acclaimed documentary ‘Kusama: Infinity’. Visit sothebys.com to watch the full video. #YayoiKusama #Kusama #onthisday #SothebysContemporary

A post shared by Sotheby's (@sothebys) on Mar 22, 2019 at 3:25pm PDT

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#Maroon5 frontman Adam Levine’s 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Gullwing will cross the auction block at @rmsothebys 17th annual Fort Lauderdale auction this weekend! An iconic shape in automotive history, this sleek @mercedesbenz has been owned by #adamlevine for the last six years. Swipe ➡️ to see the unique doors, which are hinged at the roofline and open upward ⬆️ instead of outward. #rmftlauderdale #mercedesbenz #carsofinstagram

A post shared by Sotheby's (@sothebys) on Mar 27, 2019 at 8:22am PDT

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Louise Bourgeois’s hovering golden figure ‘Arch of Hysteria’ is a cast from the body of the artist’s longtime studio assistant and friend, Jerry Gorovy. The ethereal and profound sculpture challenges antiquated theories that the female body is inherently neurotic by utilizing the male body as a sculptural expression. ‘Arch of Hysteria’ is now on public view in our new #NYC galleries – make plans to visit us this weekend on York Avenue! #SothebysContemporary #SothebysBreakingGround #LouiseBourgeois

A post shared by Sotheby's (@sothebys) on May 4, 2019 at 11:45am PDT

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🍽🍷 Representing just six of the only complete archive Supreme skate decks in private hands, this complete ‘Last Supper Set’ from 2002 depicts the central portion of Leonardo da Vinci’s 15th-century masterpiece, ‘The Last Supper’, with an additional board illustrating an image of Christ that was exclusively released in Japan. Offered together as a single lot in our 11-25 January online-only sale, all 248 decks from by the iconic streetwear brand are now on view in our #NYC headquarters. Head to our stories for more and drop by 1334 York Avenue this weekend to view the comprehensive collection, which features artist & artist estate collaborations with George Condo, Damien Hirst, KAWS, Jeff Koons and many more. #SothebysSupreme #SothebysOnline #skateboard #daVinci

A post shared by Sotheby's (@sothebys) on Jan 12, 2019 at 1:41pm PST

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This adorable #JudithLeiber frenchie #clutch embellished with multicoloured circular-cut crystals is offered in our #HongKong Jewels Online Sale (20-27 Nov). The sale offers a delightful range of #diamonds, #jadeite and jewellery, ideal for the season of gift giving or as a treat for yourself. Stay tuned by following @sothebysjewels ! #frenchbulldog #bulldog #SothebysHongKong #SothebysJewels

A post shared by Sotheby's (@sothebys) on Nov 20, 2019 at 7:11pm PST