Damien Hirst's Lullaby Spring sold for $19.2 million. Highest price for a work by a living artist. ©Sotheby’s

LONDON.- Sotheby’s week of sales concluded today, having realised a total of £204,766,360 – the highest total for any series of sales ever staged by the company in Europe. Robin Woodhead, Chief Executive, Sotheby’s International said: “This was the highest totaling week of sales London has ever seen – confirming beyond all doubt London’s rapid ascent as a central hub in the art market. The vigour of the activity in the salerooms this week was tremendous, especially with the highest price for the work of a living artist set at Sotheby’s for Damien Hirst’s Lullaby Spring. The extraordinary prices achieved this week at Sotheby’s, particularly those for Francis Bacon’s Self Portrait and Claude Monet’s Nymphéas, – at £21.5 million and £18.5 million, respectively the two top prices of the week – are testament to the fact that today's collectors want the very best the market has to offer, and they are prepared to fight hard to get it. Bidding across the sales was truly global. New buyers locked horns with long-time collectors in a bid to secure top masterpieces.”. Lire la suite http://www.artdaily.com/section/news/index.asp?int_sec=2&int_new=20709