Yesterday, Sotheby's auction in New York endedauction, where part of the collection of Paul and Rachel Mellon was sold. Many world-famous masterpieces went under the hammer for a price significantly exceeding their estimated value. And this news did not come as a surprise. Billionaire and philanthropist, racehorse breeder Paul Mellon began collecting art objects back in 1920 and added to it until his death in 1999. His widow, Rachel Lambert Mellon, who, by the way, was close friends with Jacqueline Kennedy, passed away in March of this year at the age of 103. At that time, the collection included more than two thousand items and was preliminarily estimated by experts at 100 million dollars. In recent years, Rachel Mellon has already put up for sale part of the Mellon clan's huge inheritance, including a luxurious villa in the Caribbean, considered one of the most beautiful estates in the world. Recently, from November 10 to 23, 43 items from the family collection were put up for auction, including paintings by abstract expressionist Mark Rothko, works by Richard Diebenkorn from the Ocean Park series, Pablo Picasso’s The Beach, works by French impressionists Camille Pissarro and Georges Seurat, a bronze table created by Diego Giacometti, as well as unique Mellon family jewels, including a pendant with a 9.75-carat blue pear-shaped diamond, Van Cleef & Arpels and Cartier jewelry. The total amount raised at the auction was $158,737,250. Many lots were sold above their estimated value. For example, Mark Rothko's painting "Yellow, Orange, Yellow, Light Orange", estimated at $20,000,000 - $30,000,000, was purchased for $36,565,000. His painting "Untitled", estimated at $15,000,000 - $20,000,000, was sold for a record $39,925,000. The buyer paid $1,445,000 for Diego Giacometti's "Two Birds" table, estimated by experts at $150,000 - $200,000. We can say that a grand cultural event took place, works of art once again increased in price, simultaneously finding new owners. By the way, part of the proceeds from the auction will be donated to the Gerard Lambert Charitable Foundation, which was founded by Rachel Mellon in memory of her father.
nytimes.com/
World masterpieces go under the hammer: a sale for hundreds of millions
