The Art World is excited by the prospects of a once in a generation sale this autumn. Sothebys in New York are offering 24 works from the collection of Leonard Lauder, who died earlier this year in Manhattan. Lauder, billionaire, philanthropist and art collector was CEO of the Estée Lauder group of companies until 1999, then becoming the Chairman Emeritus. His patronage of art in America included endowments and gifts, an estimated billion dollars of cubist paintings to the Metropolitan and also a collection of over a million dollars to the Whitney. He also gifted his collection of 120,000 postcards to the Museum of Fine Art in Boston.

Gustav Klimt’s Portrait of Elisabeth Lederer, will be the star piece of the auction expected to sell for more than $150 million. Executed between 1914-16 it is a full length portrait of the daughter of Serena Lederer, the artist’s major patron at the time. Klimt had already painted her portrait which resides in the Metropolitan and her grandmother, Charlotte Pulitzer. 

Elisabeth Lederer is depicted in a flowing light dress and surrounded by Japanese and Chinese motifs, reflecting the artists love of the east. Sothebys describe the work as ‘A painterly fusion of youthful femininity and cosmopolitan elegance, of Viennese style and the exoticism of the East, the painting epitomises Klimt’s mastery of colour and pattern.’ 

Klimt struggled to finish the work, always wanting to change some detail. Finally Elisabeth’s mother, through impatience, kidnapped the painting and declared it complete after two years. It was confiscated by the Nazis in 1938 but returned to its owners in 1948. The painting was acquired by Lauder in the mid 80s.

Within the sale are two other Klimt paintings, square landscapes, a number of Matisse sculptures and other important works such as Edvard Munch’s A Midsummers Eve. The sale, which takes place on 18th November, promises to be an exciting and groundbreaking event. I have chosen the Elisabeth Lederer portrait as my Painting of the Month for October.

Images courtesy of Sothebys UK.