£200 Million Art Collection Goes on Display in London Ahead of Sotheby’s Auction
London art audiences have a rare opportunity to see dozens of major 20th-century works gathered in one place before they are sold at auction later this month. The Lewis Collection, expected to achieve more than £200 million at Sotheby’s, is now on public display in the capital.
Made up of 48 works, the collection includes pieces by Gustav Klimt, Lucian Freud, Francis Bacon, Pablo Picasso, René Magritte and Edgar Degas. If estimates are achieved, Sotheby’s says it would represent the highest-valued single-owner collection ever offered at auction in Europe.
Earlier this year, a Harley-Davidson motorcycle once owned by Kevin Keegan, was auctioned for charity, and recently, a Triceratops skeleton went under the hammer.
Among the most closely watched works is a 1917 nude by Amedeo Modigliani, carrying an estimate of more than £45 million. The painting became famous after appearing in a Paris exhibition that was shut down by police on its opening day and has not been publicly seen in the UK since 1938.
Several other works are expected to attract significant interest from collectors. Lucian Freud’s Sleeping by the Lion Carpet has been valued at between £25 million and £35 million, while Degas’ Petite Danseuse de quatorze ans is expected to achieve up to £25 million.
Seven works by Picasso feature in the collection, including his 1938 portrait Buste de femme, which carries an estimate of between £12 million and £18 million.
Visitors can also see Magritte’s La belle promenade alongside Bacon’s Study for Portrait, painted in 1976.
According to Sotheby’s European chairman Oliver Barker, many of the works challenged artistic conventions when they first appeared and continue to hold an important place in the story of 20th-century art.
The sale adds another major event to London’s auction calendar. Earlier this year, collectors followed the sale of a rare Harley-Davidson motorcycle connected to Kevin Keegan, while other unusual lots have included a Triceratops skeleton that attracted international attention before going under the hammer.
Taken together, these sales reflect the breadth of London’s auction market, where fine art, historic objects and high-profile collectables continue to draw buyers and visitors from around the world.
Masterworks from the Lewis Collection will remain on public display at Sotheby’s London until 23 June. The auction will take place across 24 and 25 June.
Read more London arts, culture and auction coverage at EyeOnLondon.
Follow us on:
Subscribe to our YouTube channel for the latest videos and updates!
We value your thoughts! Share your feedback and help us make EyeOnLondon even better!
