Video: Lifestyle

video transcript

Sotheby's kicked off the spring auction season in New York with a solid Impressionist and Modern art sale that took in $230 million dollars (USD). The night's top lot was Cezanne's still life "Les Pommes" that sold for $42 million dollars, easily beating its high presale estimate of $35 million. A lot of media buzz was around this painting by Fernand Leger because of its famous seller, pop singer Madonna who offered it up to benefit a good cause. It also changed hands above its high estimate for more than $7 million dollars. David Norman of Sotheby's described the work's appeal. SOUNDBITE: David Norman, Sotheby's Chairman of Impressionist and Modern Art, saying (English) "Wha'ts wonderful is, we have this celebrated name which draws so much attention, but the quality of the art work lives up to it. Léger stands amongst Picasso and Mattise as one of the pillars of 20th century art." Up next is rival Christie's Impressionist and Modern art sale, which will offer works by Claude Monet, Marc Chagall and Pablo Picasso. The auction houses will continue their sales in the third week of May with works by Post-War and Contemporary artists, such as Roy Lichtenstein, Jackson Pollock and Andy Warhol.