Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
$95 Million Picasso Rocks the Auction House
By
Jen Chung
Published May 4, 2006
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published May 4, 2006
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist loves this story: The big impressionist and modern art auction at Sotheby's last night did not disappiont, as a mysterious man bid $95 million for the famous Picasso, Dora Maar with a black cat. The NY Times says that witnesses say he sounded Russian and give further reasons why the bidder was an enigma:
He was obviously new to both Sotheby's executives, who would never have seated him in such a remote spot had they realized what a big spender he would be, and to the auction process, as evidenced by the relentless and unsophisticated manner in which he waved his paddle. (More seasoned buyers would have been more discreet and wily.)
And he did not come just to buy the Picasso. Earlier he snapped up an 1883 Monet seascape for $5 million and later a 1978 Chagall biblical scene, "Paradise," for $2.5 million, spending a total of $102.7 million.
And that Monet used to be owned by Tyco disgrace L. Dennis Kozlowski! Anyway, we would guess that Sotheby's did an immediate credit check (or delighted in seeing a briefcase full of cash, gold or jewels) to make sure the bidder was legit, before chairman David Norman said, “The outstanding price achieved tonight by Picasso’s portrait of Dora Maar is a reflection of this quality-driven market. Works of this caliber are so remarkably rare that we could wait another generation before we see such a great Picasso appear at auction." Gothamist hopes that whoever is the new owner of the painting will lend it out - it hasn't been seen in 40 years!
The Christie's auction of impressionist and modern art did well, though not as well as the one at Sotheby's (Picasso beats van Gogh). And speaking of Picasso, check out this Google Video of Charlie Rose at the Matisse/Picasso exhibit at the MoMA QNS. (A Matisse, Recliding Nude, View of Her Back, auctioned off at Sotheby's for $18.4 million.)
Tagged
art
arts
black cat
cat
Charlie Rose
christie's
david
Dennis Kozlowski
design
Google Video
gothamist
jen chung
moma
News: NYC
nude
ny times
rose
The NY
the ny times
video
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Man fatally stabbed on J train in Queens, NYPD says
A 59-year-old man was taken to Jamaica Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Police said a person of interest was in custody.
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Sep 30, 2026 at 8:35 p.m. ET
NYC delivery workers fear e-bike bills would bring more police stops, racial profiling
The City Council held a marathon hearing on Wednesday over a slate of proposals to rein in New York's growing ecosystem of e-bikes.
By
Carol Chen
News
NYC delivery workers fear e-bike bills would bring more police stops, racial profiling
The City Council held a marathon hearing on Wednesday over a slate of proposals to rein in New York's growing ecosystem of e-bikes.
By
Carol Chen
Fake QR codes on Manhattan parking meters lead to identity theft charges
By
Charles Lane
Fare hike for NYC Ferry going into effect next month
By
Elizabeth Kim
Mayor Zohran Mamdani finally gets his federal security clearance
By
Elizabeth Kim
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .