Sotheby’s is set to auction the prestigious Lewis Collection, a remarkable assembly of artworks anticipated to exceed £200 million (approximately $2.68 million) during the sale in London on June 24 and 25, marking it as the highest-valued collection ever offered at auction in Europe.
Curated over more than forty years by British entrepreneur Joe Lewis and his daughter Vivienne, this collection showcases pieces from iconic artists such as Amedeo Modigliani, Gustav Klimt, Egon Schiele, Pablo Picasso, Francis Bacon, Lucian Freud, and Edgar Degas. Some of the works have graced major museums worldwide on loan, while others have remained unseen by the public for years.
Interest in the collection is already evident; during Sotheby’s recent Modern & Contemporary sales in London, four pieces from the Lewis Collection achieved a total of £35.8 million (around $50 million). Notably, Francis Bacon’s Self-Portrait (1969) fetched £16 million (approximately $21.5 million), significantly beyond its initial estimate.
In anticipation of the June auction, Sotheby’s has showcased the collection at its New Bond Street galleries in Mayfair, providing a fleeting opportunity for the public to view these masterpieces before they are sold. Tom Eddison, head of Contemporary Art in London, described this collection as “art history in a room.”
Among the display highlights is Modigliani’s visually striking Nu assis au collier (1971), valued at $60 million, representing the highest price for a Modigliani in Europe. Previous auctions of works from the same series yielded impressive figures, with two Nu couché paintings reaching $170.4 million and $157.2 million in New York in 2015 and 2018, respectively, solidifying Modigliani’s status among the select few artists whose pieces have sold for over $100 million multiple times.
Beyond the exceptional Modigliani, Eddison emphasizes that the collection’s true allure lies in its diversity. It features not only headline pieces, such as Freud’s renowned portrait of Sue Tilley and an esteemed Degas dancer, but also many artworks that resonate widely outside the auction sphere.
Oliver Barker, Sotheby’s European chairman, notes that the Lewis Collection is filled with influential and breathtaking works. Many of these pieces once caused significant reactions within the art community and societal norms at their inception. The Lewis family has an innate sense of what constitutes extraordinary art and its transformative impact.
The sensation of artistic innovation is evident throughout the collection. Alongside Modigliani’s radical nude portrayal is Freud’s Sleeping by the Lion Carpet (1996), estimated between £25-35 million ($33.5-50 million). This painting marks the culmination of Freud’s notable series featuring Sue Tilley, one of his iconic subjects.
Another prominent piece includes Degas’ Petite Danseuse de quatorze ans (1922), valued at £18-25 million ($24-33.5 million). This sculpture is hailed as one of the cornerstones of modern art and remains the only piece Degas exhibited during his lifetime. With the majority of the 27 casts now held in major institutions, examples in the market are exceedingly rare.
Vivienne Lewis expresses that witnessing the collected works together has unveiled new connections, despite years spent in assembly. “We often found these pieces unexpectedly, yet every time, something drew us to them,” she says. “Cherishing these artworks has been fulfilling, but experiencing them together is incredibly revealing.”
The auction will also present seven works by Picasso, showcasing the evolution of his artistry across eight decades. Eddison notes that this collection captures a remarkable narrative arc, revealing the significant transitions in Picasso’s work from his Blue Period through to his Minotaur representations.
Included is Buste de femme (1937), a tender portrait of Dora Maar that has not been exhibited publicly for over five decades. It is estimated to sell for £12-18 million ($16-24 million), reflecting a contrasting yet affectionate depiction of his muse in a period marked by more fractured expressions.
Other notable works in the auction feature Gustav Klimt’s striking 1902 portrait Bildnis Gertrud Loew (Gertha Felsőványi), Egon Schiele’s Danaë (1909), identified as one of his most important works, and Modigliani’s Homme à la pipe (Le notaire de Nice) (1919), unseen for nearly fifty years. Additionally, the collection is enriched by works from René Magritte, Henri Matisse, Max Beckmann, Francis Bacon, Chaïm Soutine, and Gustave Caillebotte, solidifying its reputation as one of the finest assemblages of figurative art ever compiled in private hands.
The collection will be on public display at Sotheby’s New Bond Street galleries until June 23 in preparation for the sale.
