Auction house Christie's acquired an art collection worth $180 million from the former head of Weis Markets.
Weis Collection to be Auctioned at Christie's, Valued at Over $180 Million
The extensive art collection of Robert and Patricia Weis, amassed over more than seventy years, will be auctioned at Christie's in a single-owner sale. The collection, consisting of 80 lots, includes works from various 20th-century art movements such as Cubism and Abstract Expressionism.
The Weis collection demonstrates refined connoisseurship, intellectual rigor, and a richly varied taste. The works, valued at over $180 million, feature pieces by renowned artists like Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Piet Mondrian, and Mark Rothko.
One of the highlights of the collection is Picasso's 1932 painting La lecture (Marie-Thérèse), which carries an estimate upon request in the region of $40 million. Another notable piece is Mondrian's Composition with Red and Blue (1939-41), estimated at $20 million-$30 million. Matisse's Figure et bouquet (Tête ocre) has an estimate between $15 million and $25 million, while Rothko's 1958 No. 31 (Yellow Stripe) is estimated upon request in the region of $50 million.
The Weis couple, both major philanthropists in education, donated to institutions such as Yale University, Bard College, Franklin & Marshall College, and Susquehanna University. Their passion for art was not only limited to their personal collection but also extended to supporting art education.
The remaining lots from the Weis collection will be divided between Christie's postwar and contemporary day sale, and its modern art day sale. The auction will take place across multiple sessions, with 18 lots being sold in a single-owner sale.
Growing up with their parents' art collection has brought great joy to the Weis children, Colleen, Jennifer, and Jonathan. They stated that the collection has defined their family experience and they hope it will inspire others who will own it. They also expressed that the collection reflects their parents' lifelong interest in art.
Robert Weis, former chairman of Weis Markets, passed away in 2015 at the age of 96, followed by his wife Patricia in 2024. The Weis children will manage their parents' art collection, ensuring that the legacy of their parents' passion for art continues.
According to Christie's CEO Bonnie Brennan, the Weis collection is both personal and historically significant, tracing the evolution of modernism. The collection, she said, is a testament to the Weis couple's dedication to art and their keen eye for exceptional pieces.
The auction of the Weis collection at Christie's promises to be a significant event in the world of art, showcasing the couple's impressive blue-chip collection and their lasting impact on the art world.
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