Mark Rothko
Untitled (Yellow, Orange, Yellow, Light Orange) made $36.5 million.
A brace of paintings by Mark Rothko from the collection of Mrs. Paul Mellon sold for $76.5 million at Sotheby’s in New York last night. The white glove (100% sold) auction of the most significant fine art from the collection achieved $158,737,250. Bidders from 32 countries participated. Rothko’s Untitled from 1970 made $39.9 million and Untitled (Yellow, Orange, Yellow, Light Orange) sold for $36.5 million. Both works had been in the Mellon collection for more than four decades.
Contemporary works from the collection achieved $116.6 million. Richard Diebenkorn’s Ocean Park made $9.68 million and all five works by Nicolas de Stael exceeded their high estimates. Sotheby’s sales of Mrs. Mellon’s collection continue this month with Jewellery and Objects of Vertu on November 20 and 21 and Interions on November 21-23.
Bill Ruprecht, Sotheby’s President, Chairman and CEO, commented: “Mrs. Mellon was an American icon, but tonight’s sale was truly an international. With works spanning four centuries and evoking her refined and eclectic taste, collectors from every corner of the globe competed tonight for a part of her distinguished legacy – leading to a rare ‘White Glove’ sale. These results are not only a fitting tribute to Mrs. Mellon, but a wonderful start to the spectacular series of exhibitions and sales from her Collection that continue this November.”
(See posts on antiquesandartireland.com for July 1 and September 12, 2014).