Lot 90
Břetislav Benda (1897 - 1983) THE MOTORCYCLIST

1928
Bronze
25 x 40 x 17 cm (h x w x d)
Marked on plinth: "B. BENDA" and "1/5"

Starting price
55 000 CZK
   |   2 157 €
Price realized
180 000 CZK
   |   7 059 €
price without premium

The Motorcyclist is an exceptional and prestigious work of Civilism, an art movement celebrating technical advances. Next to Stefan’s Bugatti and Švec’s Motorcyclist, this is another example from the poetry of civilian life in which the theme of sports and competitions takes center stage. The simple modelling of the motorcycle and the rider in the helmet is remarkable.

After studying at the sculpture and stonemasonry school in Hořice, Břetislav Benda attended the Academy of Fine Arts and studied under Josef Václav Myslbek, continuing under Jan Štursa in 1919–1922 following an interruption in his studies due to the war. In 1923 he became a member of the Mánes Union of Fine Artists. Influenced by Otto Gutfruend, he gained experience in social art in the 1920s; otherwise his figurative sculptures, which mainly focus on the female body, are categorized as part of the Neoclassicism movement. He primarily worked with bronze and marble, often for public works. Towards the end of his life he collaborated with his son, Milan Benda (*1941).

More works from auction

THE HOLY FAMILY WITH AN ANGEL

Lot 1 Pieter Coecke Van Aelst (1502 - 1550) (follower) THE HOLY FAMILY WITH AN ANGEL

Starting price
450 000 CZK | 17 647 €
Price realized
500 000 CZK | 19 608 €
DAVID RETURNING IN TRIUMPH WITH THE HEAD OF GOLIATH

Lot 2 Antoon Claeissens - circle (1536 - 1613) DAVID RETURNING IN TRIUMPH WITH THE HEAD OF GOLIATH

Starting price
320 000 CZK | 12 549 €
Price realized
320 000 CZK | 12 549 €
STORM AT SEA

Lot 3 Ludolf Bakhuizen (1630 - 1708) STORM AT SEA

Starting price
150 000 CZK | 5 882 €
Price realized
150 000 CZK | 5 882 €
NOAH'S ARCH

Lot 4 Anonym NOAH'S ARCH

Starting price
130 000 CZK | 5 098 €
Sold
PIETÀ

Anonym PIETÀ

68 000 CZK | 2 667 €
A PAIR OF WOODEN STATUES

Lot 6 Anonym A PAIR OF WOODEN STATUES

Starting price
80 000 CZK | 3 137 €
Price realized
90 000 CZK | 3 529 €
THE BAPTISM OF CHRIST

Ferdinand Maximilián Brokoff (1688 - 1731) (attributed) THE BAPTISM OF CHRIST

350 000 CZK | 13 725 €
A BOX

Lot 8 A BOX

Starting price
18 000 CZK | 706 €
MAP OF THE KINGDOM OF BOHEMIA

Lot 9 Johann Christoph Müller (1673 - 1721) MAP OF THE KINGDOM OF BOHEMIA

Starting price
130 000 CZK | 5 098 €
Price realized
160 000 CZK | 6 275 €
A NEOCLASSICAL CLOCK

Lot 10 A NEOCLASSICAL CLOCK

Starting price
25 000 CZK | 980 €
Price realized
46 000 CZK | 1 804 €
AN EMPIRE CLOCK WITH MUSIC BOX

Lot 11 AN EMPIRE CLOCK WITH MUSIC BOX

Starting price
30 000 CZK | 1 176 €
Price realized
35 000 CZK | 1 373 €
A PAIR OF BIEDERMEIER ETAGERES

Lot 12 A PAIR OF BIEDERMEIER ETAGERES

Starting price
120 000 CZK | 4 706 €
Price realized
150 000 CZK | 5 882 €
A BIEDERMEIER GLASS CASE

Lot 13 A BIEDERMEIER GLASS CASE

Starting price
90 000 CZK | 3 529 €
Price realized
300 000 CZK | 11 765 €
A PAIR OF BIEDERMEIER CHAIRS

Lot 14 A PAIR OF BIEDERMEIER CHAIRS

Starting price
30 000 CZK | 1 176 €
Price realized
30 000 CZK | 1 176 €
THREE VISTAS OF PRAGUE

Lot 15 Vincenc Morstadt (1802 - 1875) THREE VISTAS OF PRAGUE

Starting price
30 000 CZK | 1 176 €
Price realized
60 000 CZK | 2 353 €
CHARLES BRIDGE WITH THE BRIDGE TOWER

Lot 16 Carl Robert Croll (1800 - 1863) CHARLES BRIDGE WITH THE BRIDGE TOWER

Starting price
95 000 CZK | 3 725 €
Price realized
140 000 CZK | 5 490 €
LANDSCAPE WITH WINDMILLS

Lot 17 Georges Michel (1763 - 1843) LANDSCAPE WITH WINDMILLS

Starting price
140 000 CZK | 5 490 €
LANDSCAPE WITH RIDERS

Lot 18 Cornelis Lieste (1817 - 1861) LANDSCAPE WITH RIDERS

Starting price
24 000 CZK | 941 €
Price realized
31 000 CZK | 1 216 €
THE JOURNEY TO BETHLEHEM

Lot 19 Adolf Joseph Weidlich (1816 - 1885) THE JOURNEY TO BETHLEHEM

Starting price
40 000 CZK | 1 569 €
Price realized
90 000 CZK | 3 529 €
PORTRAIT OF A LADY IN PERIOD DRESS

Lot 20 Václav Brožík (1851 - 1901) PORTRAIT OF A LADY IN PERIOD DRESS

Starting price
85 000 CZK | 3 333 €
Price realized
85 000 CZK | 3 333 €
THE READER

Lot 21 Giuseppe Barison (1853 - 1931) THE READER

Starting price
80 000 CZK | 3 137 €
Price realized
180 000 CZK | 7 059 €
A MINIATURE MADONNA

Lot 22 A MINIATURE MADONNA

Starting price
18 000 CZK | 706 €
A GOLD BOX

Lot 23 A GOLD BOX

Starting price
28 000 CZK | 1 098 €
Price realized
60 000 CZK | 2 353 €
FOREST LANDSCAPE WITH AVIFAUNA IN WINTER

Lot 24 Antonín Chittussi (1847 - 1891) FOREST LANDSCAPE WITH AVIFAUNA IN WINTER

Starting price
180 000 CZK | 7 059 €
Price realized
180 000 CZK | 7 059 €
VENICE

Lot 25 Jaroslav Špillar (1869 - 1917) VENICE

Starting price
18 000 CZK | 706 €
Price realized
49 000 CZK | 1 922 €
FOREST EDGE WITH SUNSET

Lot 26 Ľudovít Csordák (1864 - 1937) FOREST EDGE WITH SUNSET

Starting price
120 000 CZK | 4 706 €
Price realized
150 000 CZK | 5 882 €
MONK IN FRONT OF A CHAPEL

Lot 27 Vojtěch Bartoněk (1859 - 1908) MONK IN FRONT OF A CHAPEL

Starting price
65 000 CZK | 2 549 €
Price realized
95 000 CZK | 3 725 €
SEATED YOUNG WOMAN

Lot 28 Max Švabinský (1873 - 1962) SEATED YOUNG WOMAN

Starting price
90 000 CZK | 3 529 €
Price realized
130 000 CZK | 5 098 €
THE ARRIVAL OF ČECH AT ŘÍP MOUNTAIN

Lot 29 Mikoláš Aleš (1852 - 1913) THE ARRIVAL OF ČECH AT ŘÍP MOUNTAIN

Starting price
18 000 CZK | 706 €
Price realized
18 000 CZK | 706 €
PORTRAIT OF A MAN

Lot 30 Jan Václav Mrkvička (1856 - 1938) PORTRAIT OF A MAN

Starting price
10 000 CZK | 392 €
Price realized
190 000 CZK | 7 451 €
SKETCHBOOK OF DRAWINGS - STUDY OF PORTRAITS

Lot 31 Jan Václav Mrkvička (1856 - 1938) SKETCHBOOK OF DRAWINGS - STUDY OF PORTRAITS

Starting price
10 000 CZK | 392 €
Price realized
550 000 CZK | 21 569 €
A VIOLA

Lot 32 Jan Baptista Dvořák (1825 - 1890) A VIOLA

Starting price
320 000 CZK | 12 549 €
A VIOLIN

Lot 33 Jan Baptista Dvořák (1825 - 1890) A VIOLIN

Starting price
280 000 CZK | 10 980 €
A VIOLA

Lot 34 Karel Josef Dvořák (1887 - 1947) A VIOLA

Starting price
250 000 CZK | 9 804 €
A PETROF AP 225 GRAND PIANO

Lot 35 A PETROF AP 225 GRAND PIANO

Starting price
1 500 000 CZK | 58 824 €
Price realized
1 500 000 CZK | 58 824 €
CLIFFS IN ÉTRETAT

Lot 36 Gustave Loiseau (1865 - 1935) CLIFFS IN ÉTRETAT

Starting price
700 000 CZK | 27 451 €
Price realized
2 900 000 CZK | 113 725 €
SUMMER LANDSCAPE

Lot 37 Alois Kalvoda (1875 - 1934) SUMMER LANDSCAPE

Starting price
120 000 CZK | 4 706 €
Price realized
310 000 CZK | 12 157 €
GODDESS MUT

Lot 38 Emil Orlik (1870 - 1932) GODDESS MUT

Starting price
90 000 CZK | 3 529 €
Price realized
100 000 CZK | 3 922 €
SYMPHONY

Lot 39 Josef Mařatka (1874 - 1937) SYMPHONY

Starting price
120 000 CZK | 4 706 €
Price realized
160 000 CZK | 6 275 €
UNTITLED

Lot 40 Vojtěch Preissig (1873 - 1944) UNTITLED

Starting price
20 000 CZK | 784 €
Price realized
37 000 CZK | 1 451 €
MEDITATION (ON THE BALCONY)

Lot 41 Vojtěch Preissig (1873 - 1944) MEDITATION (ON THE BALCONY)

Starting price
25 000 CZK | 980 €
Price realized
70 000 CZK | 2 745 €
A BOX

Lot 42 Josef Váchal (1884 - 1969) A BOX

Starting price
30 000 CZK | 1 176 €
Price realized
40 000 CZK | 1 569 €
THE WITCH

Lot 43 Josef Váchal (1884 - 1969) THE WITCH

Starting price
25 000 CZK | 980 €
Price realized
46 000 CZK | 1 804 €
SUMMER NIGHT

Lot 44 Max Švabinský (1873 - 1962) SUMMER NIGHT

Starting price
15 000 CZK | 588 €
Price realized
24 000 CZK | 941 €
VISTA OF CARLSBAD

Lot 45 Oldřich Koníček (1886 - 1932) VISTA OF CARLSBAD

Starting price
55 000 CZK | 2 157 €
THE THAW IN VEŘOVICE, MORAVIAN WALLACHIA

Lot 46 Oldřich Blažíček (1887 - 1953) THE THAW IN VEŘOVICE, MORAVIAN WALLACHIA

Starting price
260 000 CZK | 10 196 €
Price realized
290 000 CZK | 11 373 €
AT PORT

Lot 47 Václav Špála (1885 - 1946) AT PORT

Starting price
35 000 CZK | 1 373 €
Price realized
55 000 CZK | 2 157 €
AN ALBUM OF LITHOGRAPHS BY JAN ZRZAVÝ WITH TEXTS BY EWALD KLEINER

Lot 48 Jan Zrzavý (1890 - 1977) AN ALBUM OF LITHOGRAPHS BY JAN ZRZAVÝ WITH TEXTS BY…

Starting price
250 000 CZK | 9 804 €
Price realized
410 000 CZK | 16 078 €
AN ANGULAR VASE

Lot 49 Vlastislav Hofman (1884 - 1964) AN ANGULAR VASE

Starting price
180 000 CZK | 7 059 €
Price realized
410 000 CZK | 16 078 €
A COFFEE SERVICE, POLYGONAL

Lot 50 Vlastislav Hofman (1884 - 1964) A COFFEE SERVICE, POLYGONAL

Starting price
150 000 CZK | 5 882 €
Price realized
350 000 CZK | 13 725 €
A TABLE LAMP

Lot 51 Vlastislav Hofman (1884 - 1964) A TABLE LAMP

Starting price
130 000 CZK | 5 098 €
AN EGG-SHAPED BOX

Lot 52 Václav Špála (1885 - 1946) AN EGG-SHAPED BOX

Starting price
20 000 CZK | 784 €
Price realized
26 000 CZK | 1 020 €
A BOX

Lot 53 A BOX

Starting price
20 000 CZK | 784 €
TWO BOXES

Lot 54 TWO BOXES

Starting price
15 000 CZK | 588 €
A GLASS

Lot 55 A GLASS

Starting price
10 000 CZK | 392 €
VASES FOR VIOLETS

Lot 56 Josef Hoffmann (1870 - 1956) VASES FOR VIOLETS

Starting price
40 000 CZK | 1 569 €
Price realized
40 000 CZK | 1 569 €
VASES FOR VIOLETS

Lot 57 Josef Hoffmann (1870 - 1956) VASES FOR VIOLETS

Starting price
40 000 CZK | 1 569 €
Price realized
40 000 CZK | 1 569 €
A VASE

Lot 58 Josef Hoffmann (1870 - 1956) A VASE

Starting price
38 000 CZK | 1 490 €
A CHAMPAGNE FLUTE

Lot 59 A CHAMPAGNE FLUTE

Starting price
22 000 CZK | 863 €
Price realized
45 000 CZK | 1 765 €
A PALM CHANDELIER

Lot 60 A PALM CHANDELIER

Starting price
30 000 CZK | 1 176 €
Price realized
65 000 CZK | 2 549 €
AN ART NOUVEAU ARMCHAIR

Lot 61 AN ART NOUVEAU ARMCHAIR

Starting price
25 000 CZK | 980 €
A FAN-BACK CHAIR

Lot 62 Adolf Loos (1870 - 1933) A FAN-BACK CHAIR

Starting price
20 000 CZK | 784 €
Price realized
40 000 CZK | 1 569 €
A COLLECTiON OF THIRTY COLOR LITHOGRAPHS

Lot 63 Koloman Moser (1868 - 1918) A COLLECTiON OF THIRTY COLOR LITHOGRAPHS

Starting price
25 000 CZK | 980 €
Price realized
100 000 CZK | 3 922 €
Early Illustrated Books

Lot 64 Early Illustrated Books

Starting price
10 000 CZK | 392 €
Price realized
19 000 CZK | 745 €
CAUCASUS

Lot 65 CAUCASUS

Starting price
25 000 CZK | 980 €
Price realized
37 000 CZK | 1 451 €
TABRIZ

Lot 66 TABRIZ

Starting price
25 000 CZK | 980 €
Price realized
45 000 CZK | 1 765 €
RIDER

Lot 67 Pablo Picasso (1881 - 1973) RIDER

Starting price
100 000 CZK | 3 922 €
Price realized
100 000 CZK | 3 922 €
DANCE OF LIFE

Lot 68 Josef Ingriš (1880 - 1960) DANCE OF LIFE

Starting price
45 000 CZK | 1 765 €
Price realized
70 000 CZK | 2 745 €
IN FRONT OF THE CATHEDRAL

Lot 69 Josef Dobrowsky (1889 - 1964) IN FRONT OF THE CATHEDRAL

Starting price
18 000 CZK | 706 €
Price realized
18 000 CZK | 706 €
BEACH WITH BOATS IN BELGIUM

Lot 70 Alfred Zoff (1852 - 1927) BEACH WITH BOATS IN BELGIUM

Starting price
35 000 CZK | 1 373 €
Price realized
41 000 CZK | 1 608 €
GIRL IN FOLK COSTUME

Lot 71 Jan Hála (1890 - 1959) GIRL IN FOLK COSTUME

Starting price
110 000 CZK | 4 314 €
Price realized
310 000 CZK | 12 157 €
A COUPLE IN FOLK COSTUME

Lot 72 Joža Úprka (1861 - 1940) A COUPLE IN FOLK COSTUME

Starting price
55 000 CZK | 2 157 €
Price realized
55 000 CZK | 2 157 €
THE BEROUNKA RIVER AND HILLS

Lot 73 Václav Špála (1885 - 1946) THE BEROUNKA RIVER AND HILLS

Starting price
2 200 000 CZK | 86 275 €
Price realized
3 000 000 CZK | 117 647 €
FROM THE FRENCH RIVIERA

Lot 74 Jan Slavíček (1900 - 1970) FROM THE FRENCH RIVIERA

Starting price
65 000 CZK | 2 549 €
Price realized
85 000 CZK | 3 333 €
CHILDREN BY THE CARAVAN

Lot 75 Oskar Matysek (1885) CHILDREN BY THE CARAVAN

Starting price
20 000 CZK | 784 €
PARISIAN BOULEVARD AT NIGHT

Lot 76 Konstantin Korovin (1861 - 1939) PARISIAN BOULEVARD AT NIGHT

Starting price
560 000 CZK | 21 961 €
Price realized
1 900 000 CZK | 74 510 €
COMPOSITION

Lot 77 Frederico Kromka (1890 - 1942) COMPOSITION

Starting price
150 000 CZK | 5 882 €
Price realized
180 000 CZK | 7 059 €
VEIL OF VERONICA

Lot 78 Jaroslav Herbst (1887 - 1971) VEIL OF VERONICA

Starting price
20 000 CZK | 784 €
RECUMBENT

Lot 79 Pravoslav Kotík (1889 - 1970) RECUMBENT

Starting price
60 000 CZK | 2 353 €
Price realized
130 000 CZK | 5 098 €
BATHING

Lot 80 František Srp (1895 - 1943) BATHING

Starting price
25 000 CZK | 980 €
Price realized
25 000 CZK | 980 €
AT THE BAR

Lot 81 Josef Čapek (1887 - 1945) AT THE BAR

Starting price
3 500 000 CZK | 137 255 €
Price realized
7 700 000 CZK | 301 961 €
SUMMER DAY

Lot 82 Rainhold Justich (1885) SUMMER DAY

Starting price
40 000 CZK | 1 569 €
Price realized
40 000 CZK | 1 569 €
AUTUMN

Lot 83 Jaroslav Herbst (1887 - 1971) AUTUMN

Starting price
55 000 CZK | 2 157 €
Price realized
55 000 CZK | 2 157 €
IN THE YARD

Lot 84 Jozef Teodor Mousson (1887 - 1946) IN THE YARD

Starting price
230 000 CZK | 9 020 €
Price realized
420 000 CZK | 16 471 €
BOUQUET IN A VASE

Lot 85 Miloslav Holý (1897 - 1974) BOUQUET IN A VASE

Starting price
65 000 CZK | 2 549 €
Price realized
160 000 CZK | 6 275 €
PRAGUE NEIGHBORHOODS

Lot 86 Karel Holan (1893 - 1953) PRAGUE NEIGHBORHOODS

Starting price
65 000 CZK | 2 549 €
Price realized
65 000 CZK | 2 549 €
A FRENCH LEGIONNAIRE

Lot 87 Otto Gutfreund (1889 - 1927) A FRENCH LEGIONNAIRE

Starting price
70 000 CZK | 2 745 €
Price realized
70 000 CZK | 2 745 €
SPEED, STRENGTH, RESISTANCE

Lot 88 Ladislav Beneš (1883 - 1956) SPEED, STRENGTH, RESISTANCE

Starting price
85 000 CZK | 3 333 €
Price realized
100 000 CZK | 3 922 €
SEATED WOMAN I

Lot 89 Otto Gutfreund (1889 - 1927) SEATED WOMAN I

Starting price
15 000 CZK | 588 €
Price realized
15 000 CZK | 588 €
THE MOTORCYCLIST

Lot 90 Břetislav Benda (1897 - 1983) THE MOTORCYCLIST

Starting price
55 000 CZK | 2 157 €
Price realized
180 000 CZK | 7 059 €
THE COUPLE

Lot 91 Zdeněk Dvořák (1897 - 1943) THE COUPLE

Starting price
25 000 CZK | 980 €
Price realized
37 000 CZK | 1 451 €
LILA NIKOLSKÁ

Lot 92 Emanuel Kodet (1880 - 1954) LILA NIKOLSKÁ

Starting price
65 000 CZK | 2 549 €
Price realized
110 000 CZK | 4 314 €
A BUST OF TOMÁŠ GARRIGUE MASARYK

Lot 93 Vincenc Makovský (1900 - 1966) A BUST OF TOMÁŠ GARRIGUE MASARYK

Starting price
35 000 CZK | 1 373 €
Price realized
250 000 CZK | 9 804 €
PORTRAIT OF FRANTIŠEK KUPKA

Lot 94 Karel Kotrba (1893 - 1938) PORTRAIT OF FRANTIŠEK KUPKA

Starting price
65 000 CZK | 2 549 €
Price realized
70 000 CZK | 2 745 €
AN ARMCHAIR FOR HAUS REINBACH

Lot 95 AN ARMCHAIR FOR HAUS REINBACH

Starting price
55 000 CZK | 2 157 €
Price realized
55 000 CZK | 2 157 €
AN ART DECO DESK

Lot 96 AN ART DECO DESK

Starting price
38 000 CZK | 1 490 €
Price realized
65 000 CZK | 2 549 €