Three remarkable paintings by renowned American artist John Singer Sargent are set to headline Christie's upcoming autumn auction, with the Italian-themed works expected to collectively generate between $12 million and $17 million. The paintings, which come from the distinguished collection of Carol and Terry Wall, will be featured in Christie's 20th Century Evening Sales scheduled for November in New York.
The trio of works all capture scenes from Italy, the country where Sargent was born to American expatriate parents. The most valuable piece, "Capri" from 1878, carries an estimated value of $4-6 million. "Corner of the Church of San Stae, Venice," painted in 1913, is expected to bring in $6-8 million, while "Gondoliers' Siesta," created between 1902 and 1903, has a more modest estimate of $2-3 million.
These Sargent masterpieces are part of a larger offering titled "In Pursuit of Light: The Collection of Carol and Terry Wall," which also features works by other notable American artists including Mary Cassatt, Childe Hassam, Frederick Frieseke, and William Merritt Chase. The collection represents the Walls' decades-long passion for American painting from the turn of the century, a collecting journey that began in the 1990s.
Art enthusiasts worldwide will have the opportunity to view these significant works before the auction takes place. Christie's has organized a comprehensive preview tour, with the paintings scheduled to be displayed in Paris from September 23-30, followed by exhibitions in London on October 8-9, and concluding in Taipei on October 18-19.
The timing of this auction appears particularly strategic, coming on the heels of the highly successful "Sargent and Paris" exhibition that captivated audiences at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York earlier this year. The exhibition's popularity has continued internationally, with the show opening under the title "Sargent: Dazzling Paris" at the Musée d'Orsay in Paris on September 23, demonstrating the enduring appeal and market strength of Sargent's work in the contemporary art world.
