The Tarancute (De la fantana) painting by famous Romanian artist Nicolae Grigorescu was sold for a record of EUR 320,000 at the Artmark Winter Auction organized in Bucharest on December 20. The painting had an estimated price of EUR 90,000 – 160,000.

The EUR 320,000 price is a new record for the Romanian art market. The previous record was set by the painting Doua Fete (Two Girls) by Stefan Luchian, which sold for EUR 300,000 at a Goldart auction in 2013.

Another artwork signed Nicolae Grigorescu, namely Care cu boi la amiaza, was sold for EUR 60,000 at the Artmark Winter Auction. The selling price was above the estimation of EUR 25,000 – 45,000.

Nicolae Grigorescu (1838 – 1907) is one of the best-known Romanian painters. His fame has gone past national borders with his works selling at various auctions in the U.S. and Europe.

Other paintings sold at high prices during the auction organized on Tuesday are Intimitate by Nicolae Tonitza – sold for EUR 65,000, Pieta by Corneliu Baba – EUR 47,500, and Odalsica cu salvari verzi by Iosif Iser – EUR 35,000. An early painting by famous Romanian contemporary artist Adrian Ghenie, Pod (Bridge), sold for EUR 60,000, more than five times the estimated value, which was between EUR 7,000 and EUR 12,000.

The auction took place at the JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel in Bucharest, with paintings by Ştefan Luchian, Theodor Pallady, Gheorghe Petraşcu, and Camil Ressu also being put up for sale.

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