Art Market Monitor

There’s a new type of collector emerging at the highest end of the art market. This collector wants to own the very best and begins buying at the very top. The Art Newspaper thinks Roman Abramovich is one of these collectors. They’re reporting that he bought both the Bacon Triptych at Sotheby’s and Lucian Freud’s record-setting canvas at Christie’s. Nice trick. Whether this is true–or it makes sense to buy the two most expensive works rather than the two “best” works–is another question. We do know that other pictures at the top of the sale, were bought by “new” collectors who own very few works.

Also of Interest:

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• Christie’s Commentary
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• Niarchos: Pillar of the Warhol Market?
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