For Immediate Release Wednesday 27 June 2012 Contact: Cristiano De Lorenzo +44 (0) 207 389 2283 cdelorenzo@christies.

com

CHRISTIES LONDON EVENING AUCTION

OF

POST-WAR & CONTEMPORARY ART

132.8M / $207.3M / 165.8M
THE HIGHEST EVER RESULT FOR THE CATEGORY IN EUROPE
REALISES

Yves Kleins Le Rose du bleu sells for 23.5M ($36.7M / 29.4M) A new world record for a French post-war artist at auction 4 lots sold above 10 million / 5 lots sold above $10 million 5 new world artist records were established London - Christie's Post-War & Contemporary Art Evening Auction totalled 132,819,400 ($207,331,083 / 165,891,431), selling 98% by value and 87% by lot. This is the highest total for any auction of Post-War & Contemporary Art in Europe. The top lot of the sale was Yves Kleins Le Rose du bleu (RE 22), which sold for 23,561,250 ($36,779,111 / 29,428,001; illustrated above), a world record price for any French post-war artist at auction. In total, 4 lots sold above 10 million / 21 lots sold above 1 million and record prices were established for David Altmejd, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Marcel Broodthaers, Yves Klein and Beatriz Milhazes. Francis Outred, Christie's Head of Post-War & Contemporary Art, Europe: Following the record result achieved at Christie's New York in May, we are delighted with tonight results which established a new record for an auction of Post-War & Contemporary Art in Europe. Totalling more than 132.8 million, at the foundation of the auctions success were five masterworks by Yves Klein, Francis Bacon, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Gerhard Richter. The price for the Bacon was particularly satisfactory following the discovery that this self-portrait carries the body of Lucian Freud. Overall we brought together consignments from four continents, reached buyers on four continents and benefitted from a depth and strength of bidding from across the room and on the phone.

The top price of the auction was paid for Yves Kleins magnificent sponge relief Le Rose du bleu (RE 22) (1960), which sold for 23,561,250 / $36,779,111 / 29,428,001 (estimate on request), a world record price for a French post-war artist at auction. By far the largest pink sponge relief ever created by the French master, it previously formed part of the renowned Madeleine Everaert and Menil collections and was included in all the artists major exhibitions over the past 50 years.

Further Leading Highlights of The Sale:

An extremely rare Study for Self-Portrait painted by Francis Bacon in 1964 sold for 21,545,250 / $33,632,135 / 26,910,017 (estimate on request). This poignant and exceptionally intimate painting by Francis Bacon marries the artists face to the figure of friend and fellow painter, Lucian Freud. It is one of only twelve, floor-length self-portraits ever to be realised by Francis Bacon, four of which are now held in international museum collections. It is the only one to undertake the almost devotional act of conflating the two artists bodies. A pivotal painting created in the seminal year of 1981, Jean-Michel Basquiats Untitled sold for 12,921,250 / $20,170,071 / 16,138,641 (estimate on request), a world record price for the artist at auction. Formerly owned by the Israel Museum, Jerusalem, Untitled is one of the artists earliest masterpieces, combining the gritty urbanism of his street graffiti with his raw and guttural symbolism. A mesmeric and monumental abstraktes bild, Gerhard Richters Struktur 2 sold for 12,697,250 / $19,820,407 / 15,858,865 (estimate: 9,000,000-12,000,000). Executed in 1989 - the same year as the totemic fall of the Berlin Wall, this work translates the powerful climate of change into its dynamic composition. In May this year, another major abstract work by the artist set a world record price at auction, selling for $21.8 million at Christies, New York. Rouge triomphant, Alexander Calder's largest hanging 'mobile' ever sold at auction, realised 6,201,250 / $9,680,151 / 7,745,361 (estimate: 6,000,000-8,000,000). Stretching almost half a dozen metres across, this sculpture, which the artist installed in his 1962 retrospective at the Tate, London, is historic, and was clearly a source of some fascination for Calder, who expanded it twice, adding new, large mobile elements; it was acquired by the Mobil Corporation shortly after the artist's death in 1976.

About Christies Christies, the world's leading art business, had global auction and private sales in 2011 that totaled 3.6 billion/$5.7 billion. Christies is a name and place that speaks of extraordinary art, unparalleled service and expertise, as well as international glamour. Founded in 1766 by James Christie, Christie's has since conducted the greatest and most celebrated auctions through the centuries providing a popular showcase for the unique and the beautiful. Christies offers over 450 auctions annually in over 80 categories, including all areas of fine and decorative arts, jewellery, photographs, collectibles, wine, and more. Prices range from $200 to over $100 million. Christie's also has a long and successful history conducting private sales for its clients in all categories, with emphasis on Post-War and Contemporary, Impressionist and Modern, Old Masters and Jewellery. Private sales totaled 502 million / $808.6m in 2011, an increase of 44% on the previous year. Christies has a global presence with 53 offices in 32 countries and 10 salerooms around the world including in London, New York, Paris, Geneva, Milan, Amsterdam, Dubai, Zrich, and Hong Kong. More recently, Christies has led the market with expanded initiatives in growth markets such as Russia, China, India and the United Arab Emirates, with successful sales and exhibitions in Beijing, Mumbai and Dubai. *Estimates do not include buyers premium. Sales totals are hammer price plus buyers premium and do not reflect costs, financing fees or application of buyers or sellers credits.

### Images available on request Visit Christies Website at www.christies.com Complete catalogue available online at www.christies.com or via the Christies iPhone app

Post-War & Contemporary Art Evening Auction London Wednesday, 27 June 2012 Sale no: 5488 Top Ten [All sold prices include buyers premium]
Sold: Lots Sold: 60 Exchange Rate := $1.561 / 1.249 132,819,400 Lots Offered: 69 $207,331,083 Sold by Lot: 87% 165,891,431 Sold by : 98%

Lot

Description Yves Klein (1928-1962), Le Rose du bleu (RE 22), 1960 WORLD RECORD PRICE FOR THE ARTIST AT AUCTION Francis Bacon (1909-1992), Study for Self-Portrait, 1964 Jean-Michel Basquiat (1960-1988), Untitled, 1981 WORLD RECORD PRICE FOR THE ARTIST AT AUCTION Gerhard Richter (b. 1932), Struktur (2), 1989 Yves Klein (1928-1962), Rlief ponge bleu (RE 51), 1959 Alexander Calder (1898-1976), Rouge triomphant (Triumphant Red), 1959-1963 Lucian Freud (1922-2011), Naked Portrait II, circa 1974 Roy Lichtenstein (1923-1997), Reflections on Jessica Helms, 1990 Lucian Freud (1922-2011), Head of a Greek Man, 1946 Lucio Fontana (1899-1968), Concetto spaziale, Attese, 1963-64

Estimate ()

Purchase Price 23,561,250 $36,779,111 29,428,001 21,545,250 $33,632,135 26,910,017 12,921,250 $20,170,071 16,138,641 12,697,250 $19,820,407 15,858,865 7,657,250 $11,952,967 9,563,905 6,201,250 $9,680,151 7,745,361 4,297,250 $6,708,007 5,367,265 4,017,250 $6,270,927 5,017,545 3,401,250 $5,309,351 4,248,161 2,729,250 $4,260,359 3,408,833

Buyer

Estimate on Request

Anonymous

25

Estimate on Request

Christophe Van de Weghe

31

Estimate on Request

Anonymous

16 12

9,000,000 - 12,000,000 6,000,000 - 9,000,000 6,000,000 - 8,000,000 3,800,000 - 4,500,000 3,500,000 - 4,500,000 1,500,000 - 2,000,000 2,200,000 - 2,800,000

Anonymous Anonymous European Trade European Private European Private Anonymous European Private

61 24 30 23 13

Comment: See separate release Press Contact: Cristiano De Lorenzo +44 7500 815 344 cdelorenzo@christies.com