R10-R15 million Nude Irma Stern up for auction

A painting titled 'Nude' by leading South African expressionist artist, Irma Stern, is going under the hammer in Cape Town on Tuesday.

Stern's work is highly sought after in both the local and the international market, with her paintings fetching millions. The highest price paid for a Stern painting was in 2011 which fetched over R21 million.

Her large (88cm x 88cm) Nude painting is valued at R10-15 million by Stephan Welz & Co.

This auction comes after Bonhams London South Africa sale in October 2014 where Stern's 'Still Life with African Women' fetched R17.6 million.

The Stern nude was painted in Zanzibar during the 1940s.

"It is a work in which we expect to see much interest, in light of recent skyrocketing Stern sales," Anton Welz, director of Stephan Welz & Co, said in a statement. "Stern's Arab Priest was sold by Bonhams in 2011 for £3.044 million and three years later at the Bonhams October 2014 South African Sale, her Still Life with African Women fetched the top selling price of £962 500, equivalent then to R17.6 million."

"The painting brings together many of the elements Stern is best known for: an exotic model dramatically positioned, a vibrant and vital application of colour and a style that exposes her ability to identify with the spiritual and emotional beauty of the sitter," added Gary Shean, Head of the Painting Department at Stephan Welz & Co.

• A Pierneef entitled Landscape, Waterberg, which is possibly the largest of his works to appear at auction in South Africa for a number of years, is another one of the masterpieces to go under the hammer at the auction.

In this painting, estimated at R1.1 - R1.6 million, the auctioneers said Pierneef manages to capture the expanse of the Waterberg landscape -- a familiar scene to the painter --  with his magnificent rolling clouds. The work has been in the same collection since 1992, when it was sold by Stephan Welz & Co. for what was then a record of R176,000.

• Pieter Hugo Naude’s Washday beside the Hex River is to be offered at an estimate of R600,000 – R900,000.

Naude was born in Worcester, not far from the Hex River.

• A number of works by one of the country’s most important black artists, Peter Clarke, who died in 2014, will also be on offer.

One of the highlights is In the Pineapple Season, which was a personal favourite of the artist's. It was never exhibited or sold until a few years ago when the owner purchased the work privately from Clarke.

Stephan Welz & Co. achieved a world record for Clarke’s Landscape with Sheep which sold for R784,000 in October last year.

• A painting entitled Male Figure by artist Nelson Makamo is being offered with an estimated value of R40,000 – R60,000.

Stephan Welz & Co describe Makamo as one of Johannesburg's hottest artists who "is known for capturing the energy and essence of urban South African youth".

"His work resides in many corporate and private collections, including those of fashion mogul Giorgio Armani and musician Annie Lennox."

• And this is no joke: The L.A.-based street artist Mr. Brainwash is "a hot auction attraction".

His Mickey, 2013, which shows animated icon Mickey Mouse plastered against a spray painted backdrop, will appear on the auction block, with an estimated value of R80,000 to R120,000.

The auction extends over two days, starting tomorrow.