In a surprise move, Christie’s has brought it’s star lot of the evening, Francis Bacon’s triptych of Lucian Freud, up in the sale order. Auction houses like to stack the early lots with works that have strong demand and are likely to exceed their estimates. Given the already high expectations surrounding this lot, the move to right after the Christopher Wool expected to set a record, is telling:

Please note that Francis Bacon’s Three Studies of Lucian Freud, previously lot 32, will now be included in the sale as Lot 8A following Lot 8, Apocalypse Now by Christopher Wool. In addition, the start of the auction will be delayed by 15 minutes from 7:00pm to 7:15pm.