New York – October 20, The Ann & Gordon Getty Collection: Volume 1 | Important Pictures and Decorative Arts, Evening Sale attracted lively bidding from around the globe, making  $79,408,900 with 100% of the lots sold and realizing 128% hammer above low estimate. The first in a series of four live sales and six online sales of this storied collection, the auction drew nearly 2 million viewers via social media.

In the hours leading up to the auction, Christie’s announced the private sale of Venice, the Grand Canal looking East with Santa Maria della Salute by Giovanni Antonio Canal, called Canaletto, to the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, enabled through a generous donation by Diane B. Wilsey.

Jonathan Rendell, Christie's Deputy Chairman, Head of Sales Curation – Americas, comments, "This evening’s sale was historic and the results achieved are a testament to the exquisite taste and imagination of Ann and Gordon Getty. I am proud that Christie's was able to share some of the most magnificent interiors in the United States with the public through our innovative recreation of the Getty residence in our galleries worldwide. We now look forward to an extraordinary week of sales.”

Mary Cassatt’s Young Lady in a Loge Gazing to Right was the top lot of the sale. The Pola Museum of Art in Hakone, Japan acquire the work for $7,489,000, breaking a 15 year-old record.

Jacques-Émile Blanche’s, Vaslav Nijinsky in 'Danse Siamoise' set another record, selling for $2,700,000 against a low estimate of $1,000,000. Jules Bastien-Lepage’s Portrait de Sarah Bernhardt set a record as well. It achieved $2,280,000, against a low estimate of $500,000. A drawing in chalks by Jean-Antoine Watteau, Three Head Studies Of A Girl Wearing A Hat set a record for a work on paper by the artist, selling for $3,420,000, more than double its low estimate of $1,500,000.

This historic sale generated strong results across a wide variety of collecting categories, including English furniture and Chinese works of art. A Royal Early George III Mahogany China Cabinet by William Vile sold for $2,700,000 against a low estimate of $600,000, and A Pair of Massive Chinese Cloisonné and Champlevé Enamel Crane-Form Censers sold for more than 20 times the low estimate.

Bonnie Brennan, President, Christie’s Americas, said, “Christie’s is honored that we have been entrusted with Ann and Gordon Getty’s collection, and proud that we are able to celebrate their legendary collecting vision on our global stage. From the pre-auction private sale of Canaletto’s masterful view of Venice, to this evening’s auction, our international team has passionately done what we do best: presenting and selling major collections.”

Marc Porter, Chairman of Christie’s Americas, said, “Auctions in support of charitable causes are central to Christie’s values and mission, and the most important work we do. The proceeds of the 10 sales of the Getty collection will fund the Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation for the Arts to benefit arts and science charities.  I also want to note that we had a moment of what I would call philanthropy squared! The pre-auction sale this afternoon of Canaletto’s Venice, the Grand Canal Looking East, with Santa Maria della Salute will help fund the Foundation and this masterpiece will hang in the Legion of Honor in San Francisco.”