Dorotheum opened the Contemporary Week in Vienna on May 19, 2026 with an auction that confirmed the strength of Italian art on the market.
Why does Carla Accardi’s record really matter?
During the contemporary session on May 20, the sale set a new auction record for Carla Accardi. Her painting Fonda Notte Pieno Giorno (1986) exceeded expectations.
The work, a large composition on three wooden panels painted on both sides, benefited from the material structure and the artist’s immediately recognizable mark. The final result reached €520,000, including commissions.
However, the most relevant data was not just the price. That lot updated Accardi’s absolute record and placed her among the best results of the evening. Three other works by the same artist closed between €40,000 and €80,000.
How did the auction perform for Italian art?
The Italian presence was strong in multiple segments of the sale. Piero Dorazio achieved €260,000 with Ornato Bianco (1984), against a low estimate of €60,000.
Additionally, Emilio Vedova with Emerging ’83 (A Bruno Taut) (1983) followed a similar dynamic. The lot confirmed a lively demand for Italian authors of the second half of the 20th century.
Over €100,000 were also recorded for works by Lucio Fontana, Mario Schifano, Ettore Spalletti, Giuseppe Uncini, and Gastone Novelli. Overall, the session showed a well-represented and competitive Italian market.
What results distinguished the international catalogs?
Outside Italy, the Viennese catalogs highlighted solid trends for more widely demanded European artists. Martha Jungwirth saw Fruchtfleisch (2012) rise from a low estimate of €80,000 to a final price of €429,000.
That said, the evening also recorded good outcomes for Chris Ofili. His Trump (1998) sold for €390,000, while Günther Uecker reached €455,000 with Strukturfeld (1973).
Also noteworthy is Mikuláš Medek, present with two works that totaled €884,000. His Too Deep a Sleep V (1966) was the highest lot of the auction, at €546,000.
What emerges from the Italian modern in Vienna?
The modern section on May 19, 2026 confirmed a robust interest in Italians even in the historical sector. The sculpture Il Cavaliere (1951) by Marino Marini reached €565,000, more than double the low estimate.
That result made it the second-best outcome of the evening, behind the first lot: the pastel Waterloo Bridge (1901) by Claude Monet, sold for €611,000. In contrast to other more cautious auctions, Vienna showed a selective but concrete demand.
Among other results, Gino Severini achieved €377,000 with Il Paradiso Terrestre (1937). Additionally, two monumental works by Giorgio de Chirico – Apparizione del cavallo in un interno metafisico (1969) and Cavallo e zebra sulla spiaggia (1930) – totaled together €559,000.
Overall, the Dorotheum auctions in Vienna confirmed favorable market conditions, with growth and dynamism in both the secondary and primary markets, despite global economic and geopolitical uncertainty.
The final picture reflects a market capable of rewarding quality, provenance, and recognizability. For Italian artists, the signal from Vienna was clear.
IMAGE: Carla Accardi, Fonda notte (side a.) – Pieno giorno (side b.), 1986. Courtesy Dorotheum
As expert in digital marketing, Amelia began working in the fintech sector in 2014 after writing her thesis on Bitcoin technology. Previously author for several international crypto-related magazines and CMO at Eidoo. She is now the co-founder and editor-in-chief of The Cryptonomist and Econique.
She is also a marketing teacher at Digital Coach in Milan and she published a book about NFTs for the Italian publishing house Mondadori, while she is also helping artists and company to entering in the sector. As advisor, Amelia is also involved in metaverse-related project such as The Nemesis and OVER.
