In the art world’s latest eye-opening development, Christie’s auction house announced Thursday that it will put up for sale an impressive collection of art. Paul G. Allen, the co-founder of Microsoft, who died in 2018. The treasure, which includes masterpieces by Renoir and Roy Lichtenstein, is estimated to be worth over $1 billion.
The sale of over 150 works of art spanning 500 years (to be held in November on a date to be determined) will be the largest in auction history. Christie’s said it will devote all proceeds to charity, as directed by Allen.
“This is a big event for the art market and the art world,” Christie’s CEO Guillaume Cerruti said in a telephone interview. , and of course Paul Allen’s hugely inspirational figure, plus the fact that this sale is dedicated to charity, we are truly thrilled with this extraordinary project. It’s something very special.”
Despite the ongoing economic impact of the pandemic, wars abroad, and rapid inflation, the art market continues to soar, and as always, the richest collectors are almost out of the world’s turmoil. Proven to be isolated. 2021 market generated $65.1 billionaccording to an annual survey published by Art Basel and UBS.
In May, Andy Warhol’s 1964 silkscreen of Marilyn Monroe’s face, “Shot Sage Blue Marilyn,” sold at Christie’s in New York to an unknown buyer for about $195 million, becoming an American art treasure. was the highest auction price. .
Earlier this year, Sotheby’s sold a record $922 million private art collection at auction, the second cache of modern and contemporary works owned by real estate mogul Harry McCraw and his ex-wife Linda McCraw. helped me achieve.
In 2018, the David and Peggy Rockefeller Treasure was the most valuable private collection sold at auction with a record $833 million, 4 of the 2009 Yves Saint Laurent collection totals (corrected in 2013). surpassed $43 million.
Among the highlights of the Allen House work for sale is Jasper Johns’ encaustic, acrylic and paper collage “Small False Start” from 1960, which is estimated to bring in more than $50 million. , Paul Cézanne’s La Montagne Sainte-Victoire (1888-90), estimated at over $100 million. But there are also some old masters. No other details were available as to exactly which pieces will be offered.
Alex Lotter, chairman of Christie’s division dedicated to selling 20th and 21st century art, said of Allen’s collection: “Landscape and sculpture are definitely dominant.”
Allen, who co-founded Microsoft with Bill Gates, fell in love with art after a visit to London’s Tate Britain, where he was captivated by JMW Turner’s romantic seascapes and Lichtenstein’s pop paintings.
He pursued his interest in the visual arts with the same passion he brought to music. In 2000, Allen founded the Experience Music Project. Pop Culture Museum — Displayed guitars and other items owned by Jimi Hendrix in a Seattle building designed by Frank Gehry.
Allen loaned artwork to major museums and galleries and put his personal possessions into the show. exhibition “see natureHosted in 2016 by the , Portland Art Museum, Seattle Art Museum, and Paul G. Allen Family Collection, the collection included works by Vincent van Gogh, Edward Hopper, and Gustav Klimt.Among the highlights was Jan Brueghel the Younger 17th century allegory of the five senses.
“It’s just amazing to live with these works of art,” Allen said. told Bloomberg “I think we should publish some of the work and give the public a chance to see it.”
“Double Take: From Monet to Lichtenstein‘, launched at his Pop Culture Museum in 2006, combines Impressionist works with old masters, modern and contemporary works. Van Gogh’s 1888 Orchard with Peach Trees was juxtaposed with Max Ernst’s 1940 Landscape with Lake and Chimera. Willem de Kooning’s 1975 untitled abstract coincided with Monet’s 1919 Water Lilies.
Allen also treated art as an important investment. At Christie’s in 2016, he anonymously purchased Monet’s canvas depicting his 1891 haystack for his $81.4 million. bloomberg.
That same year, he sold a painting of an American fighter plane screaming across the sky by Gerhard Richter for $25.6 million, more than double the $11.2 million he paid a decade earlier, and in 2014, Mark Sold a Rothko painting for $56.2 million. He paid his $34.2 million in 2007.
Allen emphasized bringing culture to Seattle to make art accessible to more people. He started Seattle Art His Fair at the city’s football stadium, home of his NFL’s Seattle Seahawks, which Allen also owned.He also commissioned his investment firm Vulcan public art project Worked in the city and supported local artists.
“Paul truly understood the power and importance of art and was always happy to share that experience with others,” said Jody Allen, executor of the Paul G. Allen Estate. “We are very pleased to have this one-of-a-kind collection in the hands of Christie’s world-class operations to ensure its safe delivery to new collectors around the world.”