Marquee Week New York continues to produce dazzling results. The Collection of Anne Bass Sale was auctioned at Christie’s New York and saw a white-glove sale. All 12 lots – from one of the richest American women – were sold and achieved a sale total of US$363 million dollars. The total hammer price was US$313 million dollars – higher than the pre-auction low estimate of around US$243 million dollars.
Monet’s Le Parlement, soleil couchant (The Parliament in sunset) masterpiece was the sale's most valuable lot, which sold for US$75.9 million dollars with buyer’s premium. Alongside this chef-d’oeuvre, Rothko’s Untitled (Shades of Red) and Monet’s Nympheas (Water Lilies) fetched more than US$55 million dollars. They were the sale’s second and third most expensive lots.
In addition, this sale also broke the auction record of Edgar Degas, the “painter of dancers”.
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 this auction were all from her apartment.
Monet's Le Parlement, soleil couchant masterpiece was hammered at US$66 million dollars
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
Hammer Price: US$66,000,000
Sold: US$75,960,000
Originally showcased in Anne's dining room, this painting is part of Monet's Houses of Parliament series.
The auctioneer, Adrien Meyer, started the bidding at US$22 million dollars. After more than 25 bids, the hammer was dropped at US$66 million dollars. The winning bid was by Jussi Pylkkanen, Global President, for his client with paddle number 1721. In the end, it fetched US$75.9 million dollars with buyer’s premium.
Jussi Pylkkanen with the winning bid
Monet's Le Parlement, soleil couchant painting was hung in Anne's dining room
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.
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
Hammer Price: US$58,000,000
Sold: US$66,800,000
The auctioneer started the bidding at US$48 million dollars. After five bids, the hammer was dropped at US$58 million dollars – below the low estimate. The winning bid was by Max Carter, Head of Impressionist and Modern Art Department, Americas; for his client with paddle number 1728. In the end, it garnered US$66.8 million dollars with buyer’s premium.
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.
Created in 1961, this present painting’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.
Mark Rothko
Lot 12C | Claude Monet | Nympheas (Water lilies), 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
Hammer Price: US$49,000,000
Sold: US$56,495,000
The bidding started at US$22 million dollars. After more than 15 bids, the hammer was dropped at US$49 million dollars. The winning bid was by Conor Jordan, Deputy Chairman of Impressionist and Modern Art Department, Americas; for his client with paddle number 1451. In the end, it raked in US$56.4 million dollars with buyer’s premium.
In 1883, Monet moved to rural Giverny with his second wife, Alice Hoschede, and their combined eight children. During the 1890s, Monet entered the final stages of his creative career. He painted the beautiful water garden that he had designed and cultivated at his home in northern France. In more than 250 canvases, the French artist captured the shifting relationships among water, reflections, and light that continually transformed the surface of his lily pond – the infinity of nature matched by the prodigious breadth of his own creativity.
Monet was inspired by his Giverny Gardens during his later years
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
Hammer Price: US$36,000,000
Sold: US$41,610,000
In addition to many lots sold at high prices, this sale also set a new auction record for Edgar Degas, the “painter of dancers”.
This present bronze sculpture was hammered at US$36 million dollars. In the end, it fetched US$41.6 million dollars with buyer’s premium – breaking Degas’ auction record. The previous record was set by his pastel on paper work, Danseuse au repos, which garnered US$37 million at Sotheby's New York in 2008. After 14 years, this record was broken.
Depicting a fourteen-year-old ballet dancer, this bronze work 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 work from Anne's Collection was commissioned by the distinguished Hebrard foundry in Paris.
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' Danseuse au repos (1879) ￨ Sotheby's New York, 2008 ￨ Sold: US$37 million
Degas' sculpture of a ballet dancer was placed at the entrance of Anne's apartment
Other highlight lots:
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
Hammer Price: US$43,000,000
Sold: US$49,625,000
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
Hammer Price: US$31,500,000
Sold: US$36,457,500
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
Hammer Price: US$8,500,000
Sold: US$10,122,500
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
Hammer Price: US$7,500,000
Sold: US$8,977,500
Auction Details:
Auction House: Christie’s New York
Sale: The Collection of Anne H. Bass
Date and Time: 12 May 2022
Number of lots: 12
Sold: 12
Sale Rate: 100%
Sale Total: US$363,087,500