Christie’s new Asia headquarters in Hong Kong, The Henderson, has officially opened, welcoming a series of rare treasures with prices in the billions, making appearances in the sales room. First, there was the evening auction of 20th and 21st-century art, featuring Impressionist master Monet’s painting “Water Lilies,” and in the autumn auction of September, the spotlight was on Impressionist master Van Gogh’s painting “Moored Ships.”
Why not experience the fleeting light and shadow in the artist’s eyes together before the auction, and see how they create priceless masterpieces that connect value?
Impressionist Master Claude Monet
Enchanted by the “Water Lilies” in a French village garden
“The nymphs in the pond appeared before me, and I raised my palette.” – Claude Monet
Dimensions: 73.3 x 101 cm
Estimate: HKD 200,000,000 to 280,000,000 / USD 25,000,000 to 35,000,000
“The Water Lilies” (French: Les Nymphéas) is a series of oil paintings by Monet, which has been collected by the Monet family for many years and is now commissioned for auction by a prominent private collector.
The beginning of “Water Lilies” must start with his stepping into the small town of Giverny in France, which was a turning point in Monet’s creative journey.
In his forties, Monet, following the passing of his first wife Camille, moved multiple times. By chance, he fell in love with the scenery of the French town of Giverny during a train journey. Renting a house starting in 1883, he settled there permanently.
The barn of the house was used as a studio, with orchards and a small garden nearby, very close to the local school. The surrounding landscapes brought him a wealth of inspiration, leading him to make a living through painting. From then on, his works sold more and more, gradually changing his impoverished state. Later, he bought the house and courtyard, personally planted a garden, where he completed his artistic creations for the rest of his life.
During this period, he enjoyed painting nature under controlled conditions and began a series of paintings – repeatedly depicting the same scene to capture changes in light and the passing of seasons, such as works like “Rouen Cathedral”, “Haystacks”, “Poplars”, “The Houses of Parliament”, among which “Water Lilies” is the most famous.
He was most fond of the pond of water lilies he planted, initially for ornamental purposes, but later he gradually developed an urge to create. Starting in 1899, he painted water lilies, beginning with a vertical view centered around Nihonbashi, and later, after spending 20 years, he created a series of large paintings that immersed viewers in the shimmering pond. However, as he aged, he was affected by cataracts, causing his paintings to have an overall reddish hue. Subsequently, he underwent two cataract surgeries, and post-surgery, he could see ultraviolet light that others couldn’t, influencing his perception of colors. Consequently, he repainted some works, making the water lilies bluer.
In 1908, he wrote to his friend: “The scenes of water glimmer and reflections have become an obsession that captivates, transcending my capabilities as an old man. Yet, I still wish to depict what I perceive.”
Despite the passage of time and the changes in life, his love for water lilies remains unabated. In his later years, he used his blurred vision to feel the light, shadows, and the world, using water lilies to record the beauty within his sight. Today, these water lily paintings are scattered in major art galleries and museums around the world, eagerly sought after by collectors from various countries, making them one of the most influential works in modern art history.
This work marks a milestone in the legendary series, the first appearance at an auction in 125 years. It differs in format, size, color, and technique from the first set of seven paintings in the “Water Lilies” series, showcasing Monet’s most important and radically innovative artistic technique – bringing the viewers to the center of the pond, focusing on the changes between water, atmosphere, and light, with a profound influence on future generations.
Gentle light, blue and purple tones, exuding a soft yet bright atmosphere, with a sense of dynamism in the picture, giving a sense of boundless ease and comfort, leaving behind a healing feeling of peaceful time. Therefore, its precious value is self-evident.
Further reading:
- September 26: Au Pak Ling Collection: Premier Auction; Evening Auction of the 20th and 21st Centuries.
- September 27: Daytime Auctions of the Twentieth and Twenty-First Centuries
- October 2024: Elegance Boutique Week
- November 2024: Asian Art Week
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- September 26: Au Pak Ling Collection: Premier Auction; Evening Auction of the 20th and 21st Centuries.
- September 27: Daytime Auctions of the Twentieth and Twenty-First Centuries
- October 2024: Elegance Boutique Week
- November 2024: Asian Art Week
Impressionist Master Vincent Van Gogh
Witnessing the hopeful and gradually calming “Moored Ships”
“It seems almost certain that I shall not be able to work in Paris unless I find a refuge here where I can recover your peace of mind and return to work full of vigor; if it can’t be found, then I’m afraid I shall be entirely without feeling.” – Vincent Van Gogh
Dimensions: 52 x 65 cm
Estimated Value: HKD 230,000,000 to 380,000,000 / USD 30,000,000 to 50,000,000
“The Moored Vessel” is one of the extremely rare triptychs by Vincent van Gogh. This work has been cherished by the Royal Family of Bourbon-Two Sicilies and Mr. Patrick L. Abraham for over 30 years. It is estimated that the valuation will break the artist’s auction record in Asia, becoming a dazzling global focus of attention.
“Moored Ships” witnessed Van Gogh’s arrival in Paris and his immersion in the ultimate moment of falling in love with art.
Born into a merchant family, Vincent van Gogh never found peace in his life; it was only when he arrived in Paris that he began to find inner tranquility. In the summer of 1887, he created a series of significant landscape paintings in Auvers, a village northwest of Paris, blending the artistic influences he absorbed in Paris and transforming them into his unique style.
Upon arriving in Paris from the Netherlands, he immersed himself in the charm of the artistic capital, sweeping away the past gloom. Here, he learned and exchanged ideas, influenced by the artistic atmosphere of the time, began to explore the style of Impressionist painting, was enlightened by the color theory of the famous French Romantic painter Eugène Delacroix, reshaped his views on modern art, and altered his brushwork and style.
In this warmth, he found a place of tranquility that inspired boldness in his use of color. This leisurely and tranquil lifestyle is fully reflected in “Moored Boats.” Along the banks of the River Oise, attention is no longer on others, only on the neatly arranged boats, the blooming flowers, and the overcast sky, creating a stark color contrast. The scene is bathed in bright summer sunlight, combined with highly expressive brushstrokes, capturing a picturesque moment of beauty and the delicate harmony of summer. It is evident that he seamlessly integrates Impressionist and Pointillist palettes and compositions, showcasing a unique style.
Despite physical and mental health challenges, Van Gogh still approached his art with a passionate fervor, using his brush as an outlet for emotions, capturing fleeting moments with his paint. “The Anchored Boat” fully showcases his iconic use of color and brushstroke, completely embodying the boundless nature of artistic expression. Therefore, it is regarded as his “masterpiece of art” created during his time in Arles, marking a significant transformation.
Apart from this work, the other two pieces from the “Anele on the Banks of the Seine” series are now housed in the Bulle Collection Exhibition Hall of the Zurich Art Museum and the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford. This work, unseen at auctions for over 30 years, reappearing now, marks a major historical moment.
Public Preview
Date: September 22 – 26, 2024
Location: The Henderson, 6/F, 2 Mei Lun Street, Central, Christie’s New Asia Pacific Headquarters
Live Auction
Date: September 26, 2024
Location: The Henderson, 6/F, 2 Mei Lun Street, Central, Christie’s New Asia Pacific Headquarters
Christie’s The Henderson New Asia Pacific Headquarters Grand Opening Auction
