HIGHLIGHT of Sotheby’s (23.92/14.35% buyer's premium) book and manuscript sale on June 30 was Antonin Artaud’s 1947 portrait of his publisher Alain Gheerbrant, pencil, 14 x 20in (35 x 50cm), seen right, that made a double-estimate €210,000 (£140,000) to set a record for an Artaud drawing.
The portrait was acquired from Artaud, perhaps better known as a poet than an artist, in 1948 and one of 36 lots at the sale originating from Gheerbant's publishing house K. Editeur.
The 213-lot sale brought €871,000 (£580,000) and was 62 per cent sold by lot and 65 per cent sold by value.
