The short version
- A Vincent van Gogh painting from his final months is leading a sale of twelve major impressionist works from the Blaquier-Arrieta collection.
- The private hoard, described by experts as having mythical status, has never been publicly displayed until now.
- Sotheby’s expects the group of paintings to generate over $450 million when they go under the hammer in New York this November.
A significant shift is occurring in the high-end art market as a long-secluded private collection prepares for public sale. At the center of this event is Châtaigniers en fleurs, a painting by Vincent van Gogh created during the final two months of his life. The work, which depicts chestnut trees in bloom, has been assigned a pre-sale estimate of $180 million. Its appearance marks the first time the broader collection has been accessible to buyers and the public after more than fifty years of private ownership.
The painting was produced in May 1890, shortly after van Gogh arrived in the French village of Auvers-sur-Oise. This period followed his release from a psychiatric facility in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence and was characterized by a surge of creative energy and optimism. Van Gogh died just weeks after completing this piece. While most works from this specific timeframe are housed in major international museums, Châtaigniers en fleurs remains one of only eight paintings from Auvers currently held in private hands.
The artwork is part of the estate of Nelly Arrieta de Blaquier, an Argentine collector who passed away in 2020. For decades, her holdings were kept out of public view, accumulating a reputation that industry insiders describe as almost mythical. Experts have likened the assembly to a miniature version of Paris’s Musée d’Orsay, noting that it was formed when major examples by leading impressionist and post-impressionist artists were still accessible to private buyers.
Alongside the van Gogh, Sotheby’s is auctioning eleven other significant works. These include Paul Cézanne’s Harlequin, valued at $150 million, as well as pieces by Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Camille Pissarro, Paul Gauguin, Alfred Sisley, André Derain, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, and Maurice de Vlaminck. In total, the twelve paintings are expected to fetch more than $450 million combined.
The provenance of Châtaigniers en fleurs traces back to van Gogh’s brother, Theo, who inherited it after the artist’s death in July 1890. It later passed to George Gard DeSylva, a prominent American songwriter and film producer known for co-founding Capitol Records. The work eventually found its way into the Blaquier-Arrieta collection, where it remained hidden from public scrutiny for generations.
Industry observers view the opening of this collection as a historic moment for the art world. Philip Hook, a former director at Sotheby’s and noted expert on impressionist art, emphasized that the collection had been whispered about but never seen by the general public. He described it as one of the last great private assemblages of its kind, preserving works that were once within reach of collectors before prices escalated dramatically.
Simon Shaw, a senior art adviser at Sotheby’s, noted that the collection feels like a small museum finally opening its doors. The paintings have been displayed in London for two days prior to traveling to Taipei, Hong Kong, and Paris. This global preview allows potential buyers and enthusiasts to view the works before the final auction takes place.
The sale is scheduled for November 18 in New York. The emergence of these works represents a rare opportunity for institutions or private collectors to acquire masterpieces that have been unavailable on the open market for half a century. The event underscores the enduring value and scarcity of late impressionist works, particularly those from pivotal moments in artists’ careers.
As the paintings move through their final preview stops, attention remains focused on whether the estimated values will hold or exceed expectations. The concentration of such high-value items in a single auction is unusual, drawing significant interest from global collectors. The outcome may signal broader trends in the market for post-impressionist art.
Sources behind this briefing
Go to the original reporting
- The Guardian US↗Van Gogh goes on display before sale of ‘almost mythical’ private collection
