Overview
- The 1957 painting Brown and Blacks in Reds, which sold Thursday, hammered at $74 million and reached $85.8 million with fees.
- The price ranks second in Rothko’s auction history, falling just short of the $86.9 million record set in 2012, with blue‑chip provenance from Sidney Janis Gallery and the Seagram collection.
- Sotheby’s had a house guarantee and a third‑party irrevocable bid on the lot, which meant the painting would sell even if live bidding was thin.
- The result anchored an 11‑lot Mnuchin estate sale that totaled $166.3 million, while the full evening reached $433.1 million as guarantees steered money to a handful of trophy works.
- Dealers and fair organizers reported stronger buying this week, and the showing sets up Christie’s S.I. Newhouse collection sale on Monday as the next test of demand.