Marquee Week New York will soon begin. Christie's will auction Andy Warhol's Shot Sage Blue Marilyn chef-d’oeuvre; and is expected to achieve US$200 million dollars. Alongside Warhol's painting, there are also many blockbuster lots featured this season – such as 12 Modern and Contemporary Art works from the Collection of Anne Bass, who was one of the richest American women.
Led by Western Masters Mark Rothko and Claude Monet, this single-owner sale is expected to fetch more than US$250 million dollars in total.
Rothko's No. 1 (front) and Warhol's Shot Sage Blue Marilyn masterpieces (back) will be auctioned at Marquee Week New York in May | Hong Kong Preview
Rothko's Untitled (Shades of Red) and No. 1 paintings are hung in Bass' living room
Anne Bass
Anne Bass (1941-2020) was a prominent American art collector and philanthropist. Since an early age, she was passionate about literature, art and ballet – later pursuing studies in art history and Italian literature at Vassar College. In 1965, she married Texas oil tycoon, Sid Bass. Together, the couple purchased many artworks and became patrons of several art institutions – such as Fort Worth Art Museum.
The marriage lasted for more than 20 years, and in 1988, the couple announced their divorce. Anne received US$200 million dollars in the divorce settlement and decided to keep her husband's surname. At the time, the settlement was reportedly the largest of its kind in Texas’ state history.
After the divorce, she lived in her Fifth Avenue apartment in New York – elaborately furnished and displayed her beloved art collection. The 12 lots presented at Christie's New York in the upcoming auction are all from her apartment.
Lot 4C | Mark Rothko | Untitled (Shades of Red), Oil on canvas
Created in 1961
175.3 x 142.2 cm
Provenance:
- Mary Lasker, New York
- Acquired from the above by the late owner, 1983
Estimate: US$60,000,000 – 80,000,000
Two Rothko abstract paintings lead the sale and were hung on both sides of the living room. Similar in size and colour, the two paintings were created in 1961 and 1962.
The American painter's most expensive artwork sold at auction was Orange, Red, Yellow (1961). In 2012, it garnered US$86.9 million dollars at Christie's New York.
His early works tended to be figurative – using bold, rich and eye-catching colours. By the 1950s, he created signature rectangular colour field paintings – their vivid hues and minimalist compositions are emotionally stimulating. For the rest of his life, Rothko was immersed in these rectangular panes of colour until his death in 1970, aged 66.
Mark Rothko
The Hong Kong Preview site reflected the layout of Anne's apartment – juxtaposing both of Rothko's paintings
Created in 1961, this present painting is estimated between US$60 and 80 million dollars. The work’s orange-red pigments reverberate with energy – demonstrating his confidence at the peak of his creation. During the same year of this work’s making, Rothko held his first retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York; which cemented his place in the Modern Art pantheon.
Another work called No. 1 was the first canvas completed by the American artist in 1962. Estimated between US$45 and 65 million dollars, this work is primarily composed of intense orange – adding a sense of vitality and seemingly floating on the canvas.
Lot 5C | Mark Rothko | No. 1, Oil on canvas
Created in 1962
175.3 x 152.4 cm
Provenance:
- Sidney Janis Gallery, New York
- Mary Lasker, New York, 1962
- Her sale; Christie's, New York, 5 May 1982, Lot 45
- Acquired at the above sale by the late owner
Estimate: US$45,000,000 – 65,000,000
A Monet Trilogy
Anne's dining room showcased three Monet paintings – Le Parlement, soleil couchant (The Parliament in sunset), Water Lilies and Peupliers au bord de l’Epte, automne (Poplars on the banks of Epte River in autumn). The three works depict inspirational sites of Monet at different times – London and the French countryside during the late 19th and early 20th century.
Between 1899 and 1901, Monet visited London three times for inspiration and began to paint. During these travels in the English capital, the artist repeatedly painted three themes: Waterloo Bridge, Charing Cross Bridge and the Houses of Parliament. He then refined these paintings back at his home in Giverny, northern France.
The Impressionist Master created 19 works of the Houses of Parliament – including the present painting, Le Parlement, soleil couchant. Though the same landmark is painted, Monet captured the changes of light and shadows during different times and weather. As the title suggests, and in this case; the painting depicts a landscape scene at dusk and has a velvety darkness.
Monet's Le Parlement, soleil couchant painting was hung in Anne's dining room
Lot 10C | Claude Monet | Le Parlement, soleil couchant; Oil on canvas
Created in 1900-1903
81.2 x 92 cm
Provenance:
- Galerie Durand-Ruel et Cie., Paris (acquired from the artist, May 1904)
- Elizabeth and William Lowell Putnam, Boston (acquired from the above, 1907)
- Anna and Augustus Lowell Putnam, Boston (by descent from the above)
- Katharine and Harvey H. Bundy, Boston (by descent from the above, until at least 1962)
- Private collection, United States
- Acquavella Galleries, Inc., New York (acquired from the above, 1982)
- Acquired from the above by the late owner, 22 January 1982
Estimate: US$40,000,000 – 60,000,000
Lot 12C | Claude Monet | Nympheas, Oil on canvas
Created in 1907
93.8 x 89.3 cm
Provenance:
- Galerie Durand-Ruel et Cie. and Galerie Bernheim-Jeune et Cie., Paris (acquired from the artist, June 1909)
- James W. Viles, Chicago (acquired from the above, October 1909)
- Durand-Ruel Galleries, New York (acquired from the above, 1910)
- Arthur B. Emmons, Newport (acquired from the above, 1911); sale, American Art Association, New York, 14 January 1920, Lot 38
- Scott and Fowles, New York (acquired at the above sale)
- Helen Swift Neilson, Chicago (acquired from the above, 1920)
- The Art Institute of Chicago (by bequest from the above, February 1946)
- E. and A. Silberman Galleries, New York (acquired from the above, December 1947)
- Gabriel Fodor, Geneva (acquired from the above, 1947)
- Wildenstein & Co. Inc., New York (acquired from the above, February 1984)
- Acquired from the above by the late owner, 31 May 1984
Estimate: US$35,000,000 – 55,000,000
Lot 11C | Claude Monet | Peupliers au bord de l’Epte, automne; Oil on canvas
Created in 1891
101 x 65.7 cm
Provenance:
- Galerie Durand-Ruel et Cie., Paris (acquired from the artist, January 1892)
- Henry Sayles, Boston (1892); sale, American Art Association, New York, 14 January 1920, Lot 50
- Durand-Ruel Galleries and M. Knoedler & Co., Inc., New York (acquired at the above sale)
- Stephen C. Clark, New York (acquired from the above, January 1920); sale, Parke-Bernet Galleries, New York, 30-31 March 1949, Lot 85
- Mr. and Mrs. Kurt F. Pantzer, Indianapolis (1949); Estate sale, Christie’s, New York, 19 May 1982, Lot 17
- Acquavella Galleries, Inc., New York (acquired at the above sale)
- Acquired from the above by the late owner, 19 May 1982
Estimate: US$30,000,000 – 50,000,000
Degas and Dance
Degas' sculpture of a ballet dancer was placed at the entrance of Anne's apartment
Lot 2C | Edgar Degas | Petite danseuse de quartorze ans, Bronze with brown patina with muslin skirt and satin hair ribbon on wooden base
Created in 1927
Height: 102.9 cm
Provenance:
- Mr. and Mrs. Charles Liebman, New York (commissioned from the Hébrard foundry, August 1927); sale, Parke Bernet Galleries, New York, 7 December 1955, Lot 41
- M. Knoedler & Co., Inc., New York (acquired at the above sale)
- Mrs. Charles S. Payson, New York (acquired from the above, 7 December 1955)
- Sandra Payson, New York (by descent from the above, 1975)
- Wildenstein & Co. Inc., New York (acquired from the above)
- Acquired from the above by the late owner, 17 May 1985
Estimate: US$20,000,000 – 30,000,000
Depicting a fourteen-year-old ballet dancer, this bronze sculpture is the sole sculpture ever exhibited during his lifetime. Sculpted in a two-thirds life-size representation, it has a slender demeanour.
Created circa 1879-1881, the bronze figure was first exhibited at the Sixth Impressionist Exhibition in Paris in 1881; and continues to compel audiences to this day. In August 1927, this present sculpture from Anne's Collection was commissioned by the distinguished Hebrard foundry in Paris.
Lot 1C | Edgar Degas | Danseuse attachant son chausson, Pastel on buff paper
Created in 1887
47.5 x 42.9 cm
Provenance:
- Boussod, Valadon & Cie., Paris
- Mr. and Mrs. Henry O. Havemeyer, New York (acquired from the above, before 1907)
- Electra Havemeyer Webb, New York (by descent from the above, 1929)
- Electra Webb Bostwick, New York (by descent from the above, 1960)
- Hirschl & Adler Galleries, Inc., New York (acquired from the above, 25 April 1978)
- Acquavella Galleries, Inc., New York (acquired from the above, 1981)
- Thomas Gibson Fine Art, London (acquired from the above, 13 March 1981)
- Juan Alvarez de Toledo, New York (acquired from the above, 24 March 1982); sale, Christie’s, New York, 12 November 1985, Lot 22
- Acquavella Galleries, Inc., New York (acquired at the above sale)
- Acquired from the above by the late owner, 15 November 1985
Estimate: US$4,000,000 – 6,000,000
During her childhood, Anne studied ballet. In 2010, she directed the documentary, Dancing Across Borders (2010) – illustrating a young Cambodian dancer's journey to become a top dancer. Her love of dance can also be seen in her art collection – there is a pastel of Degas' Danseuse attachant son chausson (Dancer tying her ballet shoes) hung in the bedroom as well.
Degas was fond of depicting ballet dancers and was known as the “painter of dancers”. He found endless inspiration at the Paris Opera. Alongside focusing on the dancers’ most captivating moments on stage, the French artist also captured them in behind-the-scenes moments – such as in the backstage and rehearsal rooms.
Degas' pastel painting was showcased in Anne's bedroom
Other highlight lots:
Lot 7C | Balthus | Jeune fille a la fenetre, Oil and casein on canvas
Created in 1955
195 x 130 cm
Provenance:
- Claude Hersaint, Meudon (acquired from the artist, by 1956)
- Helene Anavi, France (acquired from the above); Estate sale, Sotheby Parke Bernet & Co., London, 27 March 1984, Lot 33
- Marlborough Fine Art, Ltd., London (acquired at the above sale)
- Acquired from the above by the late owner, circa 1985
Estimate: US$4,000,000 – 6,000,000
Lot 6C | Morris Louis | Lower Spectrum, Magna on canvas
Created in 1958
226.1 x 340 cm
Provenance:
- Andre Emmerich Gallery, New York
- Kasmin Ltd., London
- Marchioness of Dufferin and Ava, London
- M. Knoedler & Co., New York
- Acquired from the above by the late owner, 1983
Estimate: US$1,500,000 – 2,500,000
Lot 8C | Vilhelm Hammershoi | Stue (Interior with an Oval Mirror), Oil on canvas
Created in 1900
55 x 46 cm
Provenance:
- Georg S. Bendix, Copenhagen (probably acquired from the artist, before 1916); Estate sale, Winkel & Magnussen, Copenhagen, 20 May 1947, Lot 23
- Anon. sale, Sotheby's, London, 14-15 March 1989, Lot 51
- L. & R. Entwistle and Co., Ltd., London
- Acquired from the above by the late owner, 1989
Estimate: US$1,500,000 – 2,500,000
Lot 9C | Balthus | Les trois soeurs, Oil on canvas
Created in 1964
130.5 x 175 cm
Provenance:
- Frederique Tison, Chassy, France (acquired from the artist)
- Tony Curtis, Los Angeles (by 1968)
- Thomas Ammann Fine Arts, Zürich (by 1976)
- Acquired from the above by the late owner, 31 January 1984
Estimate: US$1,500,000 – 2,500,000
Lot 3C | Edgar Degas | Femme au peignoir bleu le torse decouvert, Oil on canvas
Created circa 1887-1890
92.1 x 41.9 cm
Provenance:
- Estate of the artist; First sale, Galerie Georges Petit, Paris, 6-8 May 1918, lot 89.
Gaston Monteux, Paris - Germaine “Nini” Monteux and Bernard Ernest Reichenbach, Paris (by descent from the above); sale, Hotel Drouot, Paris, 3 June 1937, Lot 7
- Bacri (acquired at the above sale)
- L. Salavin, Paris (by 1955)
- Acquavella Galleries, Inc., New York (acquired from the above)
- John T. Dorrance, Jr., Gladwyne, Pennsylvania (acquired from the above, 1969); Estate sale, Sotheby’s, New York, 18 October 1989, Lot 21
- Acquired at the above sale by the late owner
Estimate: US$1,200,000 – 1,800,000
Auction Details:
Auction House: Christie’s New York
Sale: The Collection of Anne H. Bass
Date and Time: 12 May 2022 | 7pm (New York local time)
Number of lots: 12