Sales next week at London’s Sotheby’s and Christie’s auction houses are anticipated to bring about at the least 400 million pounds ($658 million), as the top-end art market puts the worldwide economic crisis behind it.

Prospective buyers from emerging markets including China are helping drive art prices to new heights.

In sales of Impressionist, modern and Surrealist art, Christie’s is offering Pablo Picasso’s “Woman in a Turkish Costume” — estimated at up to 20 million pounds — and a still life by Juan Gris valued at up to 18 million pounds.

A few blocks away at Sotheby’s, sales include Vincent Van Gogh’s “Man is at Sea” and Lucian Freud’s painting “Head on a Green Sofa.”

Some extremely valuable works are red, a color Sotheby’s says is preferred by some.

Junzi Fine Art is an art advisory and consultancy providing services to artists and collectors worldwide.

Author: Serina Manqueros