FRANCE: Picasso and Matisse paintings belonging to Yves Saint Laurent to be up for auction
Record ID:
730858
FRANCE: Picasso and Matisse paintings belonging to Yves Saint Laurent to be up for auction
- Title: FRANCE: Picasso and Matisse paintings belonging to Yves Saint Laurent to be up for auction
- Date: 26th September 2008
- Summary: JOURNALIST LOOKING AT PRESS RELEASE JOURNALISTS AT CHRISTIE'S NEWS CONFERENCE GETTING READY (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRANCOIS DE RICQLES, AUCTIONEER, SAYING: "This is the fabulous collection gathered by two exceptional people over more then fifty years." NEWS CONFERENCE WITH BERBE LISTENING
- Embargoed: 11th October 2008 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: France
- Country: France
- Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz
- Reuters ID: LVACS8VDWIRHS9JZVTRJ5ZWR6U36
- Story Text: Yves Saint Laurent's private collection will be sold in a Christie's auction in what commentators call "the sale of the century".
Nearly four months after Yves Saint Laurent's death, Pierre Bergé, YSL's partner, put the art pieces they accumulated over the years up for auction.
Paintings by Picasso, Matisse and Ingres will be sold by Christie's next February in what looks like the auction of the century.
"This is the fabulous collection gathered by two exceptional people over more then fifty years." said the auctioneer who presented the pieces to the media on Friday (September 26).
Over 700 objects including paintings, sculptures, furniture, ceramics will be up for sale over three days at Paris' Grand Palais.
The collection was built over 50 years by the two men and according to specialists, it's one of the most amazing collection ever to be sold at auction.
Amongst the collection, a 1914 Picasso painting (Instruments de musique sur un guéridon) estimated between 30 and 40 million euros and a Matisse painting ("Les coucous, tapis bleu et rose) which could reach an estimated 15 to 20 million euros.
Other objects include a wooden sculpture by Constantin Brancusi which could sell up to 20 million euros.
The estimated 300 million euros for the entire collection will go to a foundation which Pierre Berbé wants to set up to help scientific research to fight against AIDS.
Pierre Bergé said he preferred to see his collection being sold rather than it ending in art galleries.
Bergé, who helped Yves Saint Laurent set up his fashion house in the 1960s also explained why he wanted this auction:
"I don't think that, if he had still ben alive, he would have decided to sell this collection. I think I would have kept the collection until the end without caring about his evolution, I'm not like this, I don't believe in life after death, and I don't think anyone can decide about my own destiny, so I've wanted to do it myself." said Bergé on Friday (September 26) Art specialists were all mesmerised by the auction, saying that it is one of the most stunning collection ever to be sold in an art auction.
The auction will take place on the 23rd, 24th and 25th of February 2009. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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