AFTER THE hoopla surrounding the auction in December of Elizabeth Taylor’s jewellery, the late Hollywood star’s collection of paintings is next to go under the hammer. Christie’s has announced that Taylor’s private art collection will be sold at auction in London next month.
While her jewellery was considered to be the best private collection ever assembled – and made €120 million – the art collection is a more modest affair. Christie’s said that Elizabeth Taylor’s love of fine art began in the home with her father Francis Taylor, an art dealer who ran a gallery on Old Bond Street in London. At the start of the second World War, Mr Taylor transferred his family and business to California.
The highlight among the 38 lots to be offered is Vincent Van Gogh’s Vue de l’Asile de la Chapelle de Saint-Rémy, 1889 which has an estimate of €5.7m-€7.9m. Taylor’s father bought the picture for her in 1963.
The Elizabeth Taylor collection also features important paintings by French Impressionist artists Degas and Pissarro. But most (22) of the lots are paintings and drawings by Welsh artist Augustus John (1878-1961) whose agent her father was. Among them is a drawing Galway Fisherfolk, dated 1915, done in “pen and ink with brown wash” which is estimated at €3,000-€4,200. It will be auctioned on February 8th.
– MP
