This double portrait below, by Federico Beltran Masses (1885-1949), attracted a flurry of bids at Bonhams’ (25/20/12% buyer’s premium) 19th Century European, Victorian and British Impressionist art auction on September 27.
Depicting the early 20th century Hollywood stars and lovers Pola Negri and Rudolph Valentino, the 5ft 4in x 4ft 3in (1.63 x 1.3m) signed oil on canvas was knocked down in London to a UK private buyer at £120,000, more than 10 times the low estimate.
This was an impressive leap in value from its previous auction price of £18,000, which it fetched at Sotheby’s in November 2004. With premium added, the price of £149,000 represented a record for the artist, surpassing the premium-inclusive £132,500 set by Masses’ Alegoria de Carmen at Sotheby’s in November 2007.