Sotheby’s Milan: 20th-century Italian art on auction May 27

On May 27 in Milan, Sotheby’s will host an evening sale of Modern and Contemporary Art emphasizing 20th-century Italian works. A large portion of the catalogue features pieces from long-held private collections that have never been offered at auction before, attracting collectors and curators seeking rare market appearances.

Why this sale matters:

• Most lots are debuting at auction, adding curatorial and market interest.
• The catalogue spans key figures of Italian 20th-century art and links to European avant-gardes.
• Estimate ranges reflect historical importance and provenance from private collections.

Notable artists and highlights

• Lucio Fontana – Concetto spaziale, Attese (1965–66), estimate: €700,000–1,000,000. A mature Spatialism work featuring vertical slashes across a monochrome surface.
• Lucio Fontana – Concetto spaziale, Attesa (1960), from the historic Galleria Blu, a more contemplative blue canvas with an arched incision.
• Yves Klein – Blue monochrome (1959), held for decades in a private collection and now offered on the market for the first time.
• Giorgio Morandi – Still life (1959), estimate: €700,000–1,000,000; representative of Morandi’s mature, pared-down painting.
• Giorgio de Chirico – Piazza d’Italia (late period), returning to metaphysical architecture and suspended perspectives.
• Emilio Vedova – Per la Spagna N. 2 (1962), estimate: €200,000–300,000; a powerful painting from the cycle on the Spanish Civil War.
• Tancredi – Untitled (1956), estimate: €150,000–200,000; a key work from the artist’s productive mid-1950s phase.
• Carla Accardi – Grande dittico (1986), estimate: €250,000–350,000; from the artist’s personal collection, showing her mature spatial structures.
• Pierre Alechinsky – Personne (1959), from a distinguished private collection and previously shown in major exhibitions.

Market and curatorial implications

Works entering the market for the first time from private collections often carry added historical weight and draw institutional attention. This sale offers an opportunity to reassess major figures of Italian 20th-century art within a high-profile auction setting, relevant for collectors, dealers and museum professionals.

Practical information: Evening sale of Modern and Contemporary Art, Milan, May 27. For times and participation details consult the auction house or the official sale catalogue.