Art/Auctions: Collection of Mrs. Paul Mellon at Sotheby's Nov. 10, 2014

The Collection of Mrs. Paul Mellon
Sotheby's New York
7 P.M., November 10, 2014
Sale 9245

Mr. and Mrs. Paul Mellon from catalogue

Mr. and Mrs. Paul Mellon (from catalogue)

By Carter B. Horsley

The November 10, 2014 auction of "masterworks" of Mrs. Paul Mellon, who died in March at the age of 103, to benefit the Gerard R. Lambert Foundation includes several major works by Richard Diebenkorn, two large paintings by Mark Rothko, and good examples by Camille Pissarro, Nicholas de Stael, Paul Klee and Georges Seurat.

The eldest child of Gerard Barnes Lambert and Rachel Parkhill Loew, Rachel Lambert Mellon was known as "Bunny" and was married in 1948 to Paul Mellon, the only son of Andrew W. Mellon, the industrialist and philanthropist who founded the National Galley of Art in Washington to which he gave 115 paintings and funds for its building designed by John Russell Pope. Paul Mellon commissioned I. M. Pei to design a major addition and donated 913 works of art. He also established the Yale Center for British Art in 1966 and funded its building designed by Louis Kahn. Her father was heir to the Listerine mouthwash fortune and became the head of the Gilette Safety Razor Company that later became Warner/Lambert Pharmaceuticals.

Lot 18, "Ocean Park #61," by Richard Diebenkorn, oil on canvas, 93 by 81 inches, 1973

Lot 18 is a large oil on canvas by Richard Diebenkorn (1922-1993) that is entitled "Ocean Park #61." It was painted in 1973 and was on extended loan to the National Gallery in Washington from March 1980 to June 2014. It measures 93 by 81 inches. It has an estimate of $8,000,000 to $12,000,000. It sold for $6,773,000 including the buyer's premium as do all prices mentioned in this article.

The auction was a very successful "white glove" affair with all lots selling for a total of $158,737,250, considerably over the pre-sale high estimate of $120,120,000, eliciting a long round of applause from the attendees.

Lot 11, "Ocean Park #89," by Richard Diebenkorn, 81 inches square, 1975

Lot 11, another large "Ocean Park" Diebenkorn, "#89," is 81 inches square and was painted in 1975. It measures 81 inches square. It was also on extended loan to the National Gallery in Washington from 1980 to 2014. It has an estimate of $8,000,000 to $12,000. It sold for $9,685,000 to fashion designer Valentino who left before the auction was over.

Lot 23, "Ocean Park #50," by Richard Diebenkorn, oil on canvas, 93 by 81 inches, 1972

Lot 23 is a third "Ocean Park" picture by Diebenkorn, "#50." An oil on canvas, it was painted in 1972 and measures 93 by 81 inches. It was on extended loan to the National Gallery in Washington from 1980 to 2013. It had an estimate of $7,000,000 to $9,000,000. It sold for $8,229,000.

Lot 3, "Ocean Park 99," by Richard Diebenkorn, oil on board, 24 1/4 by 18 inches, 1977

One of the loveliest Diebenkorns was Lot 3, an oil on board that measures 24 1/4 by 18 inches. It was painted in 1977.

Detail of Lot 3

It had a modest estimate of $1,000,000 to $1,500,000. It sold for $3,637,000.

Lot 7, "Untitled #2," by Richard Diebenkorn, gouache, crayon and pasted paper on paper, 33 1/4 by 22 1/4 inches, 1982

Lot 7 is a luscious deep blue gouache, crayon and pasted paper on paper entitled "Untitled #2" by Diebenkorn. It measures 33 1/4 by 22 1/4 inches and was painted in 1982. It has a modest estimte of $900,000 to $1,200,000. It sold for $1,675,000.

Lot 25, "Untitled #25," by Richard Diebenkorn, gouache, acrylic and crayon on paper, 25 by 38 inches, 1984

Lot 25 is another Diebenkorn, entitled "Untitled #25." A gouache, acrylic and crayon on paper, it measures 25 by 38 inches and was created in 1984. It has an estimate of $500,000 to $700,000. It sold for $461,000.

Lot 19, "Untitled #31," by Richard Diebenkorn, gouache, acrylic, crayon and pasted paper on paper, 24 1/4 by 40 inches, 1984

Lot 19, "Untitled #31," is a gouache, acrylic and crayon and pasted paper on paper by Diebenkorn. It measures 24 1/4 by 40 inches and was created in 1984. It has an estiamte of $800l,000 to $1,200,000. It sold for $905,000.

Lot 6, "Untitled," by Mark Rothko, oil on canvas, 68 by 54 inches, 1970

Lot 6 is a ravishing untitlled oil on canvas by Mark Rothko (1903-1970) that measures 68 by 54 inches. It was painted in 1970.

Oliver Barker, deputy chairman of the Sotheby's Department of Contemporary Art in Europe, auctioning Lot 6 with Alexander Rotter, co-head world-wide of the department, at the right

The lot has an estimate of $15,000,000 to $20,000,000. It sold for $39,925,000.

Lot 14, "Untitled (Yellow, Orange, Yellow, Light Orange," by Mark Rothko, oil on canvas, 81 1/2 by 60 inches, 1955

An earlier and brighter Rothko, Lot 14, "Untitled (Yellow, Orange, Yellow, Light Orange)," is an oil on canvas that measures 81 1/2 by 60 inches. It was painted in 1955. It has an estimate of $$20,000,000 to $30,000,000. It sold for $36,565,000.

Lot 36, "Children on the Beach (Watching the Tide Go Out; Watching the Boats," by Winslow Homer, oil on canvas, 12 5/8 by 16 1/2 inches, 1873

Lot 36 is a nice small oil on canvas by Winslow Homer (1836-1910) entitled "Children on the Beach (Watching the Tide Go Out; Watching the Boats)." It measures 12 5/8 by 16 1/2 inches and was painted in 1873. It was formerly in the collections of the Brooklyn Museum and Mrs. Norman B. Woolworth of New York. It has an estimate of $3,000,000 to $5,000,000. It sold for $4,533,000.

Lot 37, "Nantucket Pump," by Theodore Robinson, oil on canvas, 17 1/4 by 13 1/4 inches, 1882

Lot 37 is a fine oil on canvas by Theodore Robinson (1852-1896) entitled "Nantucket Pump." It measures 17 1/4 by 13 1/4 inches and was painted in 1882. It could easily be mistaken for a work by Winslow Homer. It was once in the collection of Paul Magriel. It has a modest estimate of $400,000 to $600,000. It sold $353,000.

Lot 2, "Coast Guard Cove," by Edward Hopper, watercolor on paper, 14 by 20 inches, 1929

Lot 2 is a nice watercolor on paper by Edward Hopper (1882-1967) entitled "Coast Guard Cove." It measures 14 by 20 inches and was painted in 1929. It has an estimate of $1,000,000 to $1,500,000. It sold for $1,085,000.

Lot 8, "Femme Tenant un Bouquet," by Georges Seurat, conté crayon on paper, 12 1/4 by 9 1/2 inches, circa 1882, left; Lot 30, "L'Arroseur," also by Seurat, conté crayon on paper, 12 1/2 by 9 5/8 inches, circa 1883

Lot 8 is a fine conté crayon on paper by Georges Seurat (1859-1891) entitled "Femme Tenant un Bouquet." It measures 12 1/4 by 9 1/2 inches and was drawn circa 1882. It has an estimate of $2,000,000 to $3,000,000. It sold for $5,317,000.

Lot 30 is a good conté crayon paper on Seurat that is entitled "L'Arroseur." It measures 12 1/2 by 9 5/8 inches and was drawn circa 1883. It has an estimate of $1,000,000 to $1,500,000. It sold for $2,965,000.

Lot 39, "Les Terrassiers (Casseurs de Pierres)," by Georges Seurat, oil on panel, 6 1/8 by 9 3/4 inches, circa 1883

Lot 39 is an excellent small oil on panel by Seurat entitled "Les Terrassiers (Casseurs de Pierres)." It measures 6 1/8 by 9 3/4 inches and was painted circa 1883. It has a modest estimateof $1,000,000 to $1,500,000. It sold for $750,000.

Lot 17, "Cap Blanc Nez," by Nicholas de Staël, oil on canvas, 23 1/2 by 31 3/4 inches, 1954

Lot 17 is a nice abstraction by Nicholas de Staël (1914-1955) entitled "Cap Blanc Nez." An oil on canvas, it measures 23 1/2 by 31 3/4 inches and was painted in 1954. It has an estimate of $600,000 to $800,000. It sold for $1,325,000.

Lot 10, "Paysage (Paysage au Lavandou)," by Nicholas de Staël, oil on canvas, 14 3/4 by 31 3/4 inches, 1952

Lot 10 is a bold and good abstraction by de Staël. An oil on canvas, it is entitled "Paysage (Paysageau Lavandou)" and measures 14 3/4 by 31 3/4 inches. It was painted in 1952. It has an estimate of $500,000 to $700,000. It sold for $1,565,000.

Lot 29, "Paysanne assise et chevre," by Camille Pissarro, oil on canvas, 23 1/2 by 29 inches, 1884

Lot 29 is a superb work by Camille Pissarro (1830-1903) entitled "Paysanne assise et chevre." An oil on canvas, it measures 23 1/2 by 29 inches and was painted in 1884. It has an estimate of $1,000,000 to $1,500,000. It sold $2,461,000.

Lot 42, "Etude Pour Les Enfants de l'Artiste," by Camille Pissarro, watercolor and gouache on paper mounted to board, 8 5/8 by 10 3/4 inches, circa 1883

Lot 42 is a very fine watercolor and gouache on paper mounted to board by Pissarro. Entitled "Etude Pour Les Enfants de l'Artiste," it measures 8 5/8 by10 3/4 inches and was painted circa 1883. It has a modest estimate of $100,000 to $150,000. It sold for $185,000.

Lot 38, "La Plage," by Pablo Picasso, oil on board laid down on cradled panel, 10 5/8 by 14 1/8 inches, 1901

Lot 38 is a nice early work by Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) entitled "La Plage." An oil on board laid down on cradled panel, it measures 20 5.8 by 14 1/8 inches and was painted in 1901. It has an estimate of $1,000,000 to $1,500,000. It sold for $845,000.

Lot 20, "Mit Dem Rad (With The Wheel)," by Paul Klee, gouache, watercolor, pen and ink on paper laiddown on the artist's cardboard mount, 6 3/4 by 9 5/8 inches, 1923

Lot 20 is an exquisite gouache, watercolor, pen and ink on paper laid down on the artists's cardboard mount, by Paul Klee (1879-1940). Entitled "Mit Dem Rad (With The Wheel," is measures 6 3/4 by 9 5/8 inches and was painted in 1923. It has an estimate of $800,000 to $1,200,000. It sold for $845,000.

Lot 41, "Intimité,' by Edouard Vuillard, oil on board, 16 3/8 by 10 3/4 inches, 1896

Lot 41 is a small but very strong oil on board by Edouard Vuillard (1868-1940) entitled "Intimité." It measures 16 3/8 by 10 3/4 inches and was painted in 1896. It has a modest estimate of $500,000 to $700,000. It sold for $3,413,000!