New York – Sotheby’s is preparing one of the most significant art sales of the year, offering a dozen Impressionist and post‑Impressionist masterpieces valued at nearly half a billion dollars. The works, which have been hidden from public view for decades, will be presented at the house’s November 18 auction in New York, and experts expect record‑breaking prices for the featured artists.
Rare South American Collection Comes to Light
The paintings originate from the private collection of the late Argentine art patron Nelly Arrieta de Blaquier and her husband, sugar‑industry magnate Carlos Pedro Blaquier. Their children are now selling the works, which include a Van Gogh landscape titled “Châtaigniers en fleurs” (Chestnut Trees in Flower) with an estimate of $180 million, and Paul Cézanne’s portrait “Arlequin,” estimated at $120 million. Both pieces have not been exhibited publicly for roughly fifty years.
Expert Praise Highlights Historical Importance
Helena Newman, Sotheby’s head of Impressionist and modern art, described the collection as a “mini‑Musée d’Orsay,” noting its exceptional caliber. “In my 30‑plus years at Sotheby’s, I’ve never had the privilege of handling a collection of quite this content and caliber,” she said.
Newman added that Van Gogh’s chestnut‑tree painting captures the “explosion of energy and vitality” the artist felt after his release from a psychiatric asylum in May 1890, just two months before his tragic death. The Cézanne portrait is one of four paintings of the artist’s son dressed as a Harlequin; the other three reside in major museums.
Additional Masterpieces Enhance the Sale
Also included are Parisian cityscapes by Claude Monet and Camille Pissarro, a horse‑racing scene by Edgar Degas, and a boating picture by Pierre‑Auguste Renoir, each valued in the tens of millions. Former Sotheby’s auctioneer and art expert Philip Hook called the collection “the stuff of legend,” emphasizing that the works have never been loaned for exhibitions.
“No one knew really what was in it. So now, for this to be revealed, is tremendously exciting,” Hook said. He praised the collectors’ strategy of securing a single, representative work by each major Impressionist and post‑Impressionist name, a feat he described as “incredibly difficult.”
Market Context and Buyer Interest
Newman expects the auction to draw global attention, with potential buyers ranging from American technology billionaires to well‑endowed institutions in the Middle East, Europe and Asia. She noted that in times of “global macro geopolitical uncertainty,” investors often turn to “established, tried and tested” works that are “unquestionably great.”
Such confidence in timeless art underscores a broader trend: ultra‑wealthy collectors seeking stability in tangible assets amid economic volatility. The upcoming sale serves as a reminder that fine art remains a reliable store of value, reinforcing the importance of preserving cultural heritage while offering a prudent investment avenue.
What to Expect on Auction Day
The November 18 auction will be conducted in New York, with live bidding and online participation. Sotheby’s will provide detailed catalogs and preview events for qualified collectors. As the auction approaches, market analysts will watch closely to see whether the projected record prices are achieved, a result that could set new benchmarks for the art market.
For collectors, investors, and art enthusiasts, the sale represents a rare opportunity to acquire works that have shaped the course of modern art. Whether the pieces fetch their high estimates or exceed them, the event will undoubtedly reinforce the enduring appeal of Impressionist and post‑Impressionist masterpieces.
Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.
