New record for Romanian art market: Nicolae Grigorescu painting sells for EUR 365,000 at Bucharest auction
<p>Artmark Auction House announced a new record for the Romanian art market set during its latest winter auction in Bucharest, which saw Nicolae Grigorescu’s “Țărăncuță odihnindu-se” (1870-1880) selling for EUR 365,000. The oil-on-canvas work thus became the highest-priced painting ever sold in Romania’s art market post-1990.</p>

<p>The painting entered the auction with an estimate of EUR 100,000 - EUR 200,000, but intense bidding for nearly 30 minutes drove its price to record-breaking levels, Artmark said.</p>

<p>The sale surpassed the artist’s previous record of EUR 340,000, set in 2018 for “Țărăncuță cu basma albă.”&nbsp;</p>

<p>Alongside three other works sold at the event, Grigorescu dominated the auction, achieving total sales of over EUR 550,000.</p>

<p>Another standout was Eustațiu Stoenescu’s “Concert la Ateneu (dirijat de George Enescu)” (1946), which sold for EUR 47,500. The painting depicts a 1937 Wagner concert at the Romanian Athenaeum, with George Enescu conducting. Starting at EUR 7,000, the work exceeded Stoenescu’s previous record of EUR 36,000, set in 2012.</p>

<p>With total sales of EUR 1.375 million and an 80% success rate for lots, Artmark’s winter auction marked the strongest performance in five years. Live bidders - present in the room or via telephone - accounted for 66% of purchases, highlighting the appeal of the curated collection, the auction house said.</p>

<p><i>irina.marica@romania-insider.com</i></p>

<p><i>(Photo source: Artmark Auction House)</i></p>