Dismal Russian Art Auctions Find Metaphor: A £10 Painting

“Christie’s International sold for 10 pounds ($15.40) an artwork earmarked to fetch 2,000 pounds at its auction of Russian art in London, summing up the mood at yesterday’s sale which missed the low forecast by almost half. Nikita Lobanov-Rostovsky’s hand shot up when [the] auctioneer … gestured toward the piece ‘Troika Leaving the Farmstead’ and asked, ‘Will anyone give me 10 pounds?'”