Rothko Boosts $611 Million Auctions as Price Rises Lure Sellers

Mark Rothko, Gerhard Richter and Francis Bacon paintings will boost auctions this month that may raise more than $611 million as sellers are spurred by rising prices for museum-quality works.

Evening modern-art sales at Christie’s International and Sotheby’s starting today in London may make as much as 240.4 million pounds ($380.6 million), 28 percent higher than last February. Combined upper valuations on the equivalent sales of contemporary works have grown 33 percent to 145.8 million pounds, according to calculations by Bloomberg News.