Christie’s to sell Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen’s $1 billion art collection

« Visionary: The Paul G. Allen Collection » will be offered at Christie’s in New York, with all proceeds going to philanthropic causes, the auction house announced.

Covering 500 years of art history, the sale will include Paul Cézanne’s painting ‘La Montagne Sainte-Victoire’, which is expected to fetch over $100 million, and Jasper Johns’ ‘Small False Start’, estimated to fetch over $100 million. of $50 million. .

“The inspiring figure of Paul Allen, the extraordinary quality and diversity of the works, and the dedication of all proceeds to philanthropy, create a unique combination that will make the sale of the Paul G. Allen collection an event of such magnitude. unprecedented, » said Christie’s. CEO, Guillaume Cerutti.

Paul Allen, pictured here on October 14, 2012, wanted all proceeds from the sale of his collection to go to philanthropic causes. Credit: Elaine Thompson/AP

Jody Allen, Paul Allen’s sister and executor, said in a press release that, for her brother, art was « both analytical and emotional. »

« He believed that art expressed a unique view of reality – combining the inner state and inner eye of the artist – in a way that can inspire us all. His collection reflects the diversity of his interests, with their own mystique and beauty. »

Jasper Johns’ « Small False Start » could sell for over $50 million. Credit: Estate of Paul G. Allen

After spending several decades assembling his collection, Allen has loaned works to museums around the world. He has also mounted exhibitions of highlights from his collection – for example, the 2016 « Seeing Nature » exhibition, which featured 39 significant landscape paintings.