A painting by British painter David Hockney titled “Early Morning, Saint Maxime” was auctioned in London on Thursday for more than 24 million pounds (27.8 million dollars), double the estimated price.
The painting “Early Morning, Saint-Maxime” depicts the sunrise on the French coast of the Côte d’Azur.
Hockney drew this painting early in his artistic career, between his famous works depicting swimming pools in California, and his later works belonging to collages, but it indicates his growing tendency towards light, as “clear waters glisten under the threads of dawn “, according to a description by Christie’s, which organized the auction.
The house explained that Hockney, now 85, was when he painted this painting, experiencing the best moments of his relationship with Peter Schlesinger, and was subsequently in a phase of “personal happiness and professional success”.
The painting was exhibited in 1970 in London as part of the first exhibition of Hockney’s work, and then disappeared from the public eye for more than three decades, and is one of four paintings inspired by images taken by Hockney during his journey through Europe in 1968 with Schlesinger.
Hockney’s “Paul With To Figures” sold for over $ 90 million in 2018 and became the most expensive painting by a living artist.
