A painting by Romanian painter Nicolae Grigorescu, the Bull Cart (in picture), one of the several paintings under this name created by Grigorescu, was sold Wednesday, October 26, for USD 104,500 in New York, at the Bonhams European Painting Auction.

The painting was originally evaluated between USD 100,000 and USD 150,000. “The significance of "The Bull Cart" by Nicolae Grigorescu lies in the fact that it is the first major work by the great Romanian master to appear on the North American art market. It is not only rare but also of exceptional quality. It has been in private hands for over 50 years. A household name in Romania, Grigorescu continues to gain recognition in the West,” said Madalina Lazen, Bonhams Senior Specialist of European Paintings New York.

Another Bull Cart painting of the Romanian Nicoale Grigorescu was sold last year in Romania at an Artmark auction for a record price of EUR 155,000.

Nicolae Grigorescu, one of the founders of modern painting in Romania, lived at the end of the 19th century. He studied in Paris and returned to Romania where he joined the Romanian army in the War of Independence as a frontline painter. He is mostly known for the portraits of peasant girls, for several ox carts and rural landscapes.

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com

(photo source: Bonhams)