Two masterpieces by El Greco (1541-1614) will auction in the same sale for the first time in living memory on July 3, at Sotheby's London.
 A painting created after El Greco's Saint Dominic in Prayer sold with a 900% increase on estimate at Bonhams |
The two masterworks will make their auction debuts more than 400 years after they were created, with each valued at £3m-5m ($4.6m-7.7m).
Saint Dominic in Prayer is one of El Greco's finest depictions of a saint. Showing the peaceful saint against transcendental surroundings, the piece reflects the dualism between heaven and earth - a concept that preoccupied much of El Greco's career.
There are only four known versions of this composition, with the remaining three embedded in institutional collections in Spain and the US.
An anonymous work, created after El Greco's Saint Dominic in Prayer, sold with a 900% increase on estimate in January.
 A smaller version of Christ on the Cross holds the record for El Greco's work |
Christ on the Cross is the latest of the three surviving large-scale versions of this monumental composition.
The original source for the figure of Christ almost certainly stems from a drawing by Michelangelo, which is now housed in the British Museum.
The record for El Greco's work at auction was achieved by a reduced autograph version of Christ on the Cross at Sotheby's in 2000 at £3.8m ($5.8m).
In December 2012, a newly discovered work by El Greco realised a 1,219% increase on estimate to sell for £791,650 ($1.3m).
These strong sale results demonstrate the momentum behind the market for El Greco, with Sotheby's auction expected to boost his popularity even further.
For more of the latest news and insights on art collecting, sign up to our free weekly newsletter.
