Henry Moore, “Reclining Figure: Festival,” 1951. ©Susan Young

LONDON — Christie’s $133.2 million Defining British Art sale on June 30 was led by Henry Moore’s ground-breaking 1951 Modernist sculpture “Reclining Figure: Festival,” which sold after a bidding battle for $33,103,428, the highest price ever achieved for a work by the artist. It was one of the most important sculptures of Moore’s entire oeuvre.

Besides Henry Moore, auction records were also set for Frank Auerbach, Lynn Chadwick, Frederic, Lord Leighton, Samuel John Peploe, Bridget Riley, David Roberts and Thomas Daniell.

Other top highlights included “Version No. 2 of Lying Figure with Hypodermic Syringe,” 1968, by Francis Bacon, which realized $27,104,708; and the full-scale 6-foot “sketch” “View on the Stour near Dedham,” circa 1821-22, by John Constable, which sold for $18,856468, the second highest price for a work by the artist at auction.

Overall, the Twentieth Century at Christie’s series of sales totaled $291,370,503. Strong overall sell-through rates of 82 percent by value and 81 percent by lot were achieved. A total of 10 sales were presented over 16 days as part of Twentieth Century and saw registered bidders from 75 countries across six continents. Watch for a complete report in an upcoming edition.