Paul Allen.Photo: David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images; Wiktor Szymanowicz/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
Works of art from late Microsoft co-founderPaul G. Allen’s collection were sold at a history-making auction Wednesday night.
The treasure trove of “60 extraordinary works” fetched more than $1.5 billion, becoming the most valuable private collection of all time and also breaking multiple additional records, according to Christie’s.
“Never before have more than two paintings exceeded $100 million in a single sale, but tonight, we saw five,” Max Carter, Vice Chairman, 20th and 21st Century Art,said in a statement. “Four were masterpieces from the fathers of modernism — Cézanne, Seurat, van Gogh and Gauguin.”
The evening’s top draw was Georges Seurat’sLes Poseuses, Ensemble (Petite version), which sold for an eye-popping $149,240,000 — shattering the record for the artist.
Fittingly, the piece held special significance for the philanthropist.
Guy Bell/Shutterstock
Cézanne’sLa Montagne Sainte-Victoiresold for $137,790,000. The landmark painting marked a pivotal turn for the artist into more abstract territory, Christie’s said, and helped to pave the way for Cubism.
The entire collection of art spans 500 years, from the Renaissance to modernism’s masters.
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Allen amassed his collection over several decades,according to CNN, and lent the artwork to museums around the world.
Per his wishes, all proceeds from the auction will benefit philanthropic causes, the auction house said.
source: people.com
