Will May be announced as the Month of the big hit during the auctions for works of art, which will take place in London and New York? Will the prices of the paintings reach their peaks despite the economic crisis? We will find this out today and tomorrow in New York, where the auction Sotheby’s is taking place with works of modern art and impressionists painting.

The most awaited one is the painting of Picasso “DE L'ARTISTE À DEUX ANS ET DEMI AVEC UN BATEAU,” which has a starting price of $12.2-$18.1 million. This painting is one Picasso’s favorites and it was in his personal collection until the year of his death in 1973.

The rich fans of the Greek art will be able to buy some things during the so called “The Greek Sale” in London, which is organized by Sotheby’s and Bonham’s on May 6^th and 19^th respectively.

One of the most expensive works is the “Flight from Chios” painting, by the Italian romanticists Francesco Hayez (1791-1881), which has a starting price of £500 000-£700 000. The painting depicts a dramatic and exciting scene, which touched the hearts of Greeks and tells the story about the destiny and the fight for freedom during Turkish occupation.

The painting was drawn in 1839 and it shows Greek and Turkish women in one boat in the stormy sea. The painter painted their agony so alive that it could be felt by anyone. In 1822 tens of thousands of Chios citizens were slaughtered by the armies of the Ottoman Empire and this is very strongly represented in the literature and the art of this age.

Among the most important painting on the auction is “Figures” by Georgios Bouzianis (1885-1959), which was drawn during the period of the 40’s and 50’s and its starting price is £80 000-£120 000.

Among the presented artists is also Nikos Engonopoulos (1910-1985) with his painting “Ulysses and Penelope.” The painting depicts the life of the mythical Ulysses , husband of Penelope, who was famous for his creativity and cunningness. Engonopoulos’ work has a starting price of £30 000-£50 000. The same price also has the “Mykonos” painting by Yannis Spiropoulos (1912-1990). The composition was drawn in 1954.

On Bonham’s auction the “Dawn” (Aurora) painting by Constantinos Parthenis has a starting price of £336 546-£560 911 and “View of Pasalimani” by Yannis Tsarouchis takes up a special place in the Greek collection and it is valued at £120 000-£180 000.

The paintings, which will be presented at the Bonham’s auction are displayed from today until May 7^th in “Atinaida.”