Romanian sculptor Constantin Brancusi’s L’enfant Endormi (in picture), a sleeping child’s head in bronze, was sold for GBP 668,450 (over EUR 750,000) at a Sotheby’s auction held in London on February 6. The price estimated for this piece was between GBP 300,000 and GBP 500,000, according to Sothebys.com. The work of art was realized in 1906 - 1907 and measures just over 15 cm.

Works by many famous names from the early 20th century were sold in the same auction, including Camille Pissarro’s La maison Rondest Sous La Neige for GBP 634,850, Marc Chagall’s Le Grand Bouquet - GBP 601,250, Pablo Picasso’s Femme Debout went for GBP 481,250 and Auguste Rodin’s Jean d'Aire sold for GBP 385,250.

In May 2012, Brancusi’s Prométhée, a gilded bronze head, was sold at a Sotheby’s auction in New York for some USD 12.6 million.

Known as the the father of modern sculpture, Constantin Brancusi was an artist and architect who became part of the explosion of talent in the late 19th and early 20th century in Paris. Through his original work he became one of the most well-known sculptors of the 20th century and is without a doubt Romania’s most famous international artist. We wrote about him here.

Constantin Brancusi will be celebrated in an event organized at the Scala Cinema in Bucharest on February 19. Organized by the Canada – based International Constantin Brancusi Society, the event will celebrate 137 years since the birth of the sculptor.

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com

(photo source: sothebys.com