CHRISTIE'S FAILS TO SELL GAUGUIN PAINTING

A PAINTING BY PAUL GAUGUIN, BILLED AS THE TOP LOT AT CHRISTIE'S AUCTION OF MODERN AND IMPRESSIONIST WORKS IN LONDON, FAILED TO FIND A BUYER ON WEDNESDAY. THE TRIBUTE TO THE ARTIST'S FRIEND VINCENT VAN GOGH, IN THE FORM OF A STILL LIFE WITH SUNFLOWERS CALLED 'NATURE MORTE A L'ESPERANCE', HAD BEEN EXPECTED TO FETCH UP TO $16 MILLION. OVERALL, THE AUCTION RAISED $99.6 MILLION, ACCORDING THE AUCTION HOUSE'S WEBSITE, TOWARD THE LOWER END OF THE EXPECTED $130.4 MILLION. THE TOP LOT OF THE NIGHT WAS PIERRE BONNARD'S 'TERRASSE A VERNON' WHICH SOLD FOR $11.6 MILLION, WELL ABOVE EXPECTATIONS OF $6.4 MILLION.