A WORLD RECORD PRICE FOR A BRONZE BIRD BY REMBRANDT BUGATTI SOLD AT AUCTION
Paris, The standout lot of Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr's Impressionist and Modern Art auction on 3 June 2026 was Cavallo e Cavaliere, a monumental bronze by Italian sculptor Marino Marini, conceived between 1956 and 1957. Standing more than eight feet tall and offered from the distinguished Shell Collection, the sculpture exemplifies Marini's powerful postwar vision. In Cavallo e Cavaliere, the artist transformed the traditional motif of horse and rider into a striking symbol of the fragility and instability of the modern human condition. The work achieved €1,197,900.
Emilie Millon, International Director of the Impressionist and Modern department at Bonhams, commented: "More than half a century after its creation, Marino Marini's powerful symbolism of horse and rider continues to resonate with remarkable relevance. We are delighted that this monumental bronze from the Shell collection has been acquired by a private collector, achieving such an outstanding result following its exhibition at Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr in Paris. Conceived nearly seventy years ago, this masterwork will continue to captivate and inspire audiences for generations to come."
Bénédicte van Campen, Bonhams' Senior International Specialist, added: "The sale presented also an outstanding group of sculptures by Pompon and Bugatti which achieved amazing results, above their pre-sale estimates. A palpable energy filled the room, with the setting heightening the excitement and driving strong bidding throughout the evening."
The Impressionist and Modern Sale presented 61 lots, achieving an 80% sell-through rate and a total of €3.3 million.
Earlier, Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr sold an exceptional array of animal sculptures by Rembrandt Bugatti (1884-1916) and François Pompon (1855-1933) offering a fresh look at how two artists redefined the representation of animals in early modern sculpture. Conceived and executed circa 1907, Cigogne en marche by Rembrandt Bugatti was an exceptional piece as it was a unique one signed and inscribed 'R. Bugatti / pièce unique' and stamped with the A.A. Hébrard foundry mark. It sold for €673,500, a world record for a bird by the artist sold at auction. Also included was a fine quality, early rare bronze model of Deux vaches se suivant, l'une broute en marchant, conceived when Rembrandt Bugatti was only sixteen years old. As the only known example of this composition, the work was further distinguished by its rarity as well as by the exceptional precocity it reveals within the artist's early production and sold for €76,600.
This sale showcased four iconic sculptures by François Pompon, created during the artist's lifetime, which offered a remarkable insight into the diversity and coherence of his work. All lots sold well above their estimates. An iconic and rare Ours blanc realized in 1926 and made of Lens stone sold for €279,800. From a unique private collection, an Hippopotame bronze with a brown and dark-brown patina, conceived in 1922, cast in 1923 by Hébrard sold for €178,200, more than three times its low estimate of €50,000 to 70,000 and a Dromadaire made of bronze with a brown patina nuanced with green, conceived in 1906 sold for €48,640 against an estimate of €15,000 to 20,000. A Grue couronnée en marche conceived in 1927 and cast during the artist's lifetime by C. Valsuani sold for €89,300 far above its estimate of €18,000 to 25,000.
Other highlights included:
• Léopold Survage (1879-1968), Ville, oil on canvas painted 1920 sold for €190,900, more than three times its low estimate. The 1920s marked a pivotal period in Léopold Survage's career. In this work, the city is fragmented and recomposed through flattened perspectives and interlocking forms, transforming the urban landscape into a study of composition.
• Albert Marquet (1875-1947), La Frette vers Paris, le remorqueur, oil on canvas, sold for €159,150
• Jean Metzinger (1883-1956), Portrait de Louise Luquet, oil on canvas signed 'Metzinger', painted in 1942 sold for €63,900. Though best known as a Cubist theorist and painter, Jean Metzinger also produced portraits that balanced modernity with greater realism. In this portrait of Louise Luquet, Cubist structure remains visible in the composition, while the sitter's features and personality are rendered with clarity and immediacy. The vivid, acidic colors and striking blue eyes enhance her presence, reflecting Metzinger's search for a synthesis between Cubist innovation and classical portraiture.
From the Luquet collection, this portrait of Louise Luquet, a friend of the Metzinger family, was a rediscovery.
• Giorgio De Chirico (1888-1978), Cavallo in un paese, oil on paper laid on canvas, painted circa 1955 sold for €24,320
(Press Release)
