Important paint of Paul Gauguin will be auctioned in London

London, January 7, 2011.- An important auction will take place in England, around a masterpiece of French artist Paul Gauguin.

Responsible for carrying out this event is the auction house Christie’s, whose spokesman said that it is expected the paint to reach U.S. $ 15.4 million.

It’s “Nature morte à ‘L’Esperance’” (Still Life with “The Hope “), a painting of sunflowers as part of a series of four works that the French artist held in honor to his friend Vincent Van Gogh.

The work, which had not been seen in public since 1989, was made in 1901 while the painter lived in Tahiti, shortly before his death.

According to EFE, the director and head of Impressionist and Modern Art at Christie’s Giovanna Bertazzoni said that last year the collectors market from China and Russia have bid up to record sales figures in this house.

“The auctions in February of this year Christie’s will offer a significantly higher number of Impressionist works that have remained in private hands for decades”, she said.