Orientalism and the Orient

Sotheby’s held two sales today that are opposite sides of the same coin. In London, there was the Modern and Contemporary Arab and Iranian Art sale which brought in $5.2 million, just above the low estimate with 71% sold by lot.

In New York the 19th Century European Art sale including the Orientalist Sale, brought in $13.6 million. The top lots were this picture by Leopold Carl Muller and one by Jean-Leon Gerome. Both of those went for prices above the high estimates.