The most valuable private-collection sale of all time broke the world-record for a sale just halfway through the bidding at Christie’s in New York last night. The first part of the collection of Microsoft co-founder Paul G. Allen – just 60 lots – made $1,506,386,000. One highlight after another saw five paintings – the most ever in one sale – bringing more than $100 million each, with each one setting a world record.
Three of the lots were among the top lots sold of all time. Georges Seurat’s groundbreaking statement on pointillism, Les Poseuses, Ensemble (Petite version) led the evening at $149,240,000. Paul Cezanne’s monumental landscape, La Montagne Sainte-Victoire brought $137,790,000. Vincent van Gogh’s Verger avec cyprès, which captures the artist’s early encounter with the South of France, achieved $117,180,000. Paul Gauguin’s Maternité II from 1899, one of his most important years, made $105,730,000. Gustav Klimt’s evocative depiction of a Birch Forest, made $104,585,000. The number and size of the record prices set was unprecedented. 60 masterpieces were sold and 20 artists records were set.
The auction broke the world-record for a sale just halfway through the bidding when the auctioneer, Jussi Pylkkänen, knocked down Alberto Giacometti’s sculpture, Femme de Venise III, for $25,007,500. The auction was 100% sold, and 122% sold against low estimate. All of the estate’s proceeds from this historic sale will be dedicated to philanthropy, pursuant to Mr. Allen’s wishes. The second part of the sale takes place later today.
(See posts on antiquesandartireland.com for November 2 and August 26, 2022)
RECORDS
- Seurat, Les Poseuses Ensemble (Petite version) – $149,240,000
- Cézanne, La montagne Sainte-Victoire – $137,790,000
- Van Gogh, Verger avec cypres – $117,180,000
- Gauguin, Maternite II – $105,730,000
- Klimt, Birch Forest – $104,585,000
- Freud, Large Interior, W11 (After Watteau) – $86,265,000
- Johns, Small False Start – $55,350,000
- Signac, Concarneau, calm de matin – $39,320,000
- Ernst, Le roi jouant avec la reine – $24,435,000
- Wyeth, Day Dream – $23,290,000
- Rivera, The Rivals – $14,130,000
- Francis, Composition in Blue and Black – $13,557,500
- Steichen, The Flatiron – $11,840,000
- Cross, Rio San Trovaso, Venise – $9,550,000
- Brueghel, The Five Senses – $8,634,000
- Hepworth, Elegy III – $8,634,000
- Benton, Nashaquitsa – $5,580,000
- Sidaner, La Serenade Venise – $2,100,000
- Singer Sargent, The Façade of La Salute, Venice – $3,660,000 – for work on paper
- Klee, Bunte Landschaft – $4,860,000 – for work on paper
