Paul Allen’s Art Collection Sells for $1.5 Billion at Christie’s, the Biggest Sale in Art Market History

Even with high expectations—the late Microsoft cofounder’s collection was known to have numerous masterpieces in immaculate condition, and the uncertain economy has big spenders looking for safe bets—the sum was staggering.

Five of the paintings on offer exceeded $100 million each, the most ever for one sale, and each set a world record for the artist. The highest price, $149.24 million, was for Georges Seurat’san 1888 pointillist depiction of three nudes arranged in front of a detail of the artist’s famedAlso making the $100 million club were lots by Cézanne, van Gogh, Gaugin and Klimt.

As with any substantial collection, Allen’s elicited a certain voyeuristic curiosity: What did one of the original tech billionaires collect, and why? What was the thread, if any?Wiktor Szymanowicz/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images Unlike the postwar and contemporary focus of the Macklowes, who zeroed in on Rothko, Twombly, Warhol and the like, Allen demonstrated more catholic taste, with acquisitions spanning five centuries and myriad styles, from the early Italian Renaissance to French Impressionism and on up to Pop and other 20th-century movements.

Viewers might speculate whether the many landscapes—by artists as varied as Monet, O’Keeffe, Richter and Hockney—referenced the tech frontier. Or perhaps where we see van Gogh’s deceptively controlled, tiny marks, Allen saw digital pixels. But it doesn’t take an expert—whether in tech or in art—to be floored by those Klimt birch trees. Some things don’t need explaining.

United States Latest News, United States Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Paul Allen’s Art Collection Sets Record with $1.5 Billion SaleMicrosoft co-founder Paul Allen’s estate made auction history on Wednesday when a group of 60 artworks from his estate sold for $1.5 billion, smashing the record for priciest collection ever sold at auction Looks perverted
Source: WSJ - 🏆 98. / 63 Read more »

Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen's art collection tops $1.5 billion at auctionThe collection of Paul Allen, the late co-founder of Microsoft, was a treasure trove of masterpieces spanning 500 years. New drawing board of mashed potatoes Amazing
Source: CNBC - 🏆 12. / 72 Read more »

Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen's $1.5 billion art collection sale smashes auction recordWorks by van Gogh, Gaugin, Cézanne, Seurat and Klimt each sold for over $100 million. Allen let us use his skybox while registering voters, nice guy 🙏 send the filthy billionaires to space, never to return. we’re better off without them.
Source: axios - 🏆 302. / 63 Read more »

Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen's art collection fetches a record $1.5 billionWorks by Georges Seurat, Paul Cézanne, Vincent van Gogh, Paul Gauguin and Gustav Klimt all sold for over $100 million on a record-shattering night at Christie's in New York. Le gustaba desnudos y hombres se ve un cuadro prevertido no arte sino enfermedad no podia en vida pero expresaba por medio de pintura pobre hombre y pobre el que compro Bunch of pedophiles yo wtf is goin on in that painting?
Source: cnni - 🏆 326. / 59 Read more »

Microsoft Co-Founder Paul Allen's Art Collection Smashes Record With $1.5 Billion AuctionThe collection of Paul Allen, the late co-founder of Microsoft, was a treasure trove of masterpieces spanning 500 years.
Source: NBCNewYork - 🏆 270. / 63 Read more »

Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen’s private art collection sells for record $1.5 billionAll the proceeds from the auction will go to charitable causes.
Source: fox7austin - 🏆 594. / 51 Read more »