SALE TOTAL: $158,737,250
100% SOLD
Selections from the Collection of Mrs. Paul Mellon totaled $158,737,250, exceeding its high estimate of $121 million
- Global bidding from 32 countries spanning 4 continents
The auction was led by two paintings by Mark Rothko that both exceeded expectations: Untitled from 1970, which achieved $39,925,000 (est. $15/20 million), and Untitled (Yellow, Orange, Yellow, Light Orange) from 1955, which fetched $36,565,000 (est. $20/30 million)
- Both works had remained in the Mellons’ collection for more than four decades
- Eight bidders competed for Untitled, and five competed for Untitled (Yellow, Orange, Yellow, Light Orange)
The Contemporary works from the collection together brought $116.6 million
- Eight paintings and works on paper by Richard Diebenkorn totaled $32.2 million, led by Ocean Park #89 that sold for $9,685,000 (est. $8/12 million)
- All five works on offer by Nicolas de Staël exceeded their high estimates
- Works on paper across styles and genres performed well throughout the night, led by Georges Seurat’s Femme tenant un bouquet circa 1882, which fetched $5,317,000 (est. $2/3 million)
- The work was a Christmas gift from Mr. Mellon to his wife in 1956
- Old Master Paintings were highlighted by Ambrosius Bosschaert the Elder’s Still Life from the early-17th century, which brought $4,645,000 (est. $3/5 million)
- Each of the three sculptures on offer by Diego Giacometti – a longtime friend of Mrs. Mellon – exceeded its estimate, featuring Table au dragon à l’oiseau that brought $1,745,000 (est. $200/300,000)
- Giacometti painted the works white at Mrs. Mellon’s request
