[Pounds Sterling]25m Bacon Leads Battle of the Art Auctions; Modern Classic: Study of A Nude with Figure in A Mirror by Francis Bacon Goes on Sale at Sotheby's in February

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Byline: AMAR SINGH

A PAINTING of a grotesque nude woman by Francis Bacon is set to sell formore than [pounds sterling]25 million as London's two big auction houses go head to head incontemporary art sales.

Study Of A Nude With Figure In A Mirror, painted in 1969, is expected to be theheadlinegrabbing work in a week of auctions at Sotheby's from 5 February.

Other lots include an Andy Warhol portrait of Judy Garland and works byPicasso.

It will be the first time Sotheby's has held a contemporary art auction formore than a single dayreflecting the huge appetite for topend modern works in today's market.

On Monday 4 February, rival auction …