A dozen Impressionist and post-Impressionist artworks valued at nearly $450 million will be auctioned on November 18 in New York, Sotheby’s announced. The collection includes Vincent van Gogh’s "Châtaigniers en fleurs" (Chestnut Trees in Flower), estimated at $180 million, and Paul Cézanne’s portrait "Arlequin," valued at $120 million. These works have not been publicly displayed for over 50 years and come from a private South American collection.
The artworks were amassed by the late Argentine collector Nelly Arrieta de Blaquier and her husband Carlos Pedro Blaquier, a sugar magnate. Their children are now selling the collection through Sotheby’s. Helena Newman, Sotheby’s head of Impressionist and modern art, described the collection as akin to a “mini-Musée d’Orsay,” highlighting its exceptional quality and rarity. She noted that in her 30-plus years at Sotheby’s, she has never handled a collection of this caliber.
The auction reflects a trend where wealthy collectors seek security in masterpieces amid uncertain times. The van Gogh painting captures the artist’s renewed energy after his release from a psychiatric asylum, while the Cézanne portrait is another highlight expected to attract significant attention. The sale could set new records for both artists, underscoring the enduring value of Impressionist and post-Impressionist art in the global market.
The auction is scheduled for November 18 in New York, with Sotheby’s anticipating record-breaking bids for these unseen masterpieces from the private collection of the Blaquier family, marking a rare opportunity for collectors and institutions to acquire works of this significance.