A masterpiece by Franz Marc to be offered at Sotheby’s

Franz Marc: “Der Wasserfall”

A masterpiece by Franz Marc to be offered at Sotheby’s ]]>

August 26th 2007 – Sotheby’s has announced a blockbuster for its Impressionist and Modern Art auction, next November 2: a masterpiece by Franz Marc, Der Wasserfall (Frauen Unter Einem Wasserfall). Painted in 1912, at the height of the artist’s involvement with the avant-garde Expressionist group, Der Blaue Reiter, this monumental and rare painting summarizes the excitement and intensity that marked the development of German art during the years that preceded World War I. Estimated to sell for $20/30 million, the painting is the only great, large-scale work by the artist in private hands.

The evening sale will also include six paintings by Kees van Dongen from a private collection, the most exciting group of works by the artist to appear at auction. The offering spans van Dongen’s career and is highlighted by an early painting from 1905, Le Chapeau de Cerises, which is estimated to sell for $2.5/3.5 million.

Following the record-setting price achieved for Henri Matisse at Sotheby’s London this past June, the upcoming evening sale will feature a number of works by the artist. Among them is Espagnole (Buste) from 1922, a beautiful canvas from the artist’s celebrated Nice Period which has been consigned by members of the Paine family, renowned Boston-area philanthropists and descendants of Robert Treat Paine, a signer of the Declaration of Independence (est. $12/16 million).