LONDON, ENGLAND.- The fusion of skills and cultural sympathy in Greek art comes together powerfully in a painting `The Sultan’s Favourite’, by Theodore Jaques Ralli, one of the many stunning images by Greek artists on view at Bonhams next Greek Sale on December 12 in New Bond Street. Ralli, awarded the Legion of Honour by France, used the skills of the Dutch Realist School to capture the magic of Turkish harem life.

The painting is estimated to attract bids in the region of £40,000 to £60,000. Ralli was one of those artists who consistently managed to sell their work even before they were completely dry, a fact that explains why the National Gallery in Athens has so few of his works.

This ninth Greek sale at Bonhams since the first one in 2002 is expected to break a number of new world records for Greek artists, says Philippe Glyptis, of Art Expertise in Athens, agents for Bonhams. Prices have risen consistently since these sales have been held in London. Estimated prices in this sale range from £600 to £180,000 – this top price being for `Summer’ by Yiannis Moralis (born 1916).

Among the 213 items for sale at least four are tipped for record prices. These are lot 69, by Nicolaos Lytras, Shores of Tinos (£40,000 to £60,000); Lot 104, The Sailor by Nikos Engonopoulos (£80,000 to £100,000); Lot 135, The Abduction of Aegina by Nikos Nikolaou (£28,000 -£35,000) and Lot 162, Summer by Yiannis Moralis. (£130,000 - £180,000).

A further highlight of the sale is lot 25 by Nicholaos Gysis, a work given by the artist to his friend, the well established German artist, Eduard Kurzbauer. Titled `Spring’ it is estimated to make £40,000 to £60,000. Writing of this artist N. Misirli notes: “Gysis, a visionary by nature, was distinguished by an idealistic outlook on life, evident throughout his oeuvre and especially in his allegorical compositions. “ This view received fresh impetus after his first visit to Greece after seven years in Germany, was made in 1872 and was a life-changing experience. He noted both the everyday things of life in Greece and he also envisioned the enternal intangibles that a few sensitive souls can detect.

In this sale there are a number of artists whose work will in effect be rediscoveries, including work by Spyridon Yiannaris, lot 73; Spyriidon Yiannoukakis lot 99; Jason Molfessis lot 140 and George Lolossidis lot 141.

But without doubt the wonderful Ralli picture, The Sultan’s Favourite, is one of the most beautiful and seductive Greek paintings ever offered at auction. This painting, lot 14, is from the collection of Ivada Parker of Los Angeles, California.

The Sultan’s Favourite is immersed in an atmosphere of romantic mysticism and eroticism. bathed in a translucent light enfolding the shores of the Bosphorus and the skyline of Constantinople dominated by the domes of the Hagia and the Blue Mosque.

The Sultan’s Favourite reclines in a small canoe-like vessel trailing her fingers in the waters of the Bosphorus. This harem beauty confronts the viewer inviting you into a dream world of water myths. In reality such pleasure trips made the harem buzz with excitement. The harem woman, poet and musician, Layla Saz described just such an exquisite outing and adventure in an interview recorded on the last day of her life. Her words echo what the Sultan’s Favourite might well have said of her boat trip.

“Our real joy was the simplicity of nature. We would run away from the noise of the city and throw ourselves in the water. There were hundreds of kayiks and women in silk and diaphanous veils like apparitions. I can never forget those beautiful days. The crystal voices of the singers licked the shores of the Bosphorus, trembling and dying into the water.”