“An impressionistic painting of a Marrakech street by Winston Churchill (circa 1935), led the auction with a $1.5 million result, more than tripling its low estimate. This canvas drew ‘widespread media and collector attention’ due to its significance and provenance.” ArtNet revealed today
Celebrity association was two fold–the artist was a significant individual and the artist’s ownership of his painting for 21 years ahead of the painting having been gifted–inspired aggressive bidding approximately 160% greater than the painting’s high estimate.
Interesting to note Churchill’s highest auction price took place in March 2021, at which time Tower of the Koutoubia Mosque sold for the equivalent of $11.5 million at a British auction.
Corinne Cain of SavvyCollector.com