'Around Cleopatra's Bath' is highlight of Christie's successful 17 April auction of Modern and Contemporary Arab, Iranian and Turkish Art, which made over a million dollars more than the estimate The first part of Christie's April auctions of modern and contemporary Arab, Iranian and Turkish art was held on 17 April in Dubai. The sales totalled $4,016,300, significantly above the auction house's top estimate of $3.9 million. The highlight was Mahmoud Saïd's Marsa Matrouh - Vers le Bain de Cleopatre (Marsa Matrouh - Around Cleopatra's Bath) which sold for $602,500, double its estimate. The vibrant painting of theMatrouh Governorate seaportis one of the iconic works of the Alexandrian-born artist, who is often considered the father of modern Egyptian art. In addition, a work by Iraqi contemporary artist Ahmed Alsoudani sold for $386,500. Part two of the sale continues on 18 April. http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/39535.aspx
