New York – On Thursday, November 10, 2022, Christie’s concluded Visionary: The Paul G. Allen Collection, a landmark philanthropic event. Visionary comprised 155 masterpiece objects spanning 500 years of art history. It was sold over a two-day series of auctions. In total, the collection realized $1,622,249,500, well in excess of the total high estimate. It was 100% sold. The sales saw participation from bidders and buyers from all over the world, in particular, 28% of works by value were bought by Asian clients in the Wednesday night sale.

There was great strength and depth in bidding across the collection, with an average of 5.6 bidders competing for each lot. Of all the registrants for the sales, nearly 15% were new to Christie’s.

Guillaume Cerutti, CEO, Christie’s, said, “The Paul G. Allen collection attracted tens of thousands of visitors to Christie’s galleries around the world, and has now made history, setting the record for the most valuable auction sale ever. This resounding success can be attributed to the unique combination of the intrinsic quality of the art works, the inspiring and visionary figure of Paul G. Allen, and the philanthropic endeavors underpinning the sale. Christie’s is deeply honored to have been entrusted with the sale of this collection.”

Bonnie Brennan, President, Christie’s Americas, said, “What a week we’ve had at Christie’s in New York City. We share Mr. Allen’s belief in transformative philanthropy and make this belief a central part of all we do. This year alone, Christie’s will have raised an estimated $2 billion for philanthropic causes. and that has inspired us as we do all we can for the generous collectors we work with Christie’s has, and certainly continues to be, the undisputed house for top collections. We’ve sold eight of the 10 most valuable of all time and set the standard this year, with the sales of Paul G. Allen, Ann and Gordon Getty, Thomas and Doris Ammann, and Anne Bass.

A Global Phenomenon

Highlights of The Paul G. Allen Collection embarked on a worldwide tour of Hong Kong, Shanghai, Taipei, London, Paris, and Los Angeles with thousands of visitors. The tour culminated in New York, drawing crowds of art lovers  to  Christie’s Rockefeller Center galleries where many queued for as long as two hours to experience the exhibition.

Part I | Evening Sale

The first evening was a historic event, achieving more than $1.5 billion over the course of the 60-lot sale. This was the first auction ever to sell five works above $100 million. The sale established twenty records in a variety of collecting categories including Impressionist and Modern, Post-War and Contemporary, and Latin American paintings. Georges Seurat’s Les Poseuses, Ensemble (Petite version) led the sale at $149,240,000. The event was livestreamed to more than 4 million viewers globally—the highest viewership to-date for a Christie’s sale.

Part II | Day Sale

Day two of the sale began with a strong showing of artwork spanning all genres and mediums. In total, the sale generated an additional $115,863,500. The top lot of the sale was Oldenburg and Van Bruggen’s monumental sculpture Typewriter Eraser, Scale X which realized $8,405,000. An additional six artist records were set, including a record for Mildred Thompson, whose String Theory 4 sold for $138,600.

RECORDS

Part I

Georges Seurat, Les Poseuses Ensemble (Petite version) – $149,240,000

Paul Cézanne, La montagne Sainte-Victoire – $137,790,000

Vincent Van Gogh, Verger avec cypres – $117,180,000

Paul Gauguin, Maternite II – $105,730,000

Gustav Klimt, Birch Forest – $104,585,000

Lucian Freud, Large Interior, W11 (After Watteau) – $86,265,000

Jasper Johns, Small False Start - $55,350,000

Paul Signac, Concarneau, calm de matin - $39,320,000

Max Ernst, Le roi jouant avec la reine - $24,435,000

Andrew Wyeth, Day Dream - $23,290,000

Diego Rivera, The Rivals - $14,130,000

Sam Francis, Composition in Blue and Black - $13,557,500

Edward Steichen, The Flatiron - $11,840,000

Henri-Edmond Cross, Rio San Trovaso, Venise - $9,550,000

Jan Brueghel The Younger, The Five Senses - $8,634,000

Barbara Hepworth, Elegy III - $8,634,000

Thomas Hart Benton, Nashaquitsa - $5,580,000

Henri Le Sidaner, La Serenade Venise - $2,100,000

John Singer Sargent, The Façade of La Salute, Venice - $3,660,000 – for work on paper

Paul Klee, Bunte Landschaft - $4,860,000 – for work on paper

Part II

Claes Oldenburg and Coosje Van Bruggen, Typewriter Eraser, Scale X - $8,405,000

Jacques Lipchitz, Figure - $4,380,000

Nancy Rubins, Study – $23,940

Mildred Thompson, String Theory 4 – $138,600

Alden Mason, Sweet Encounter – $189,000

Guillermo Kuitca, Diarios – $567,000

Joseph Kosuth, ‘Titled (A.A.I.A.I.)’ [text-context] - $289,8000 – for work on paper