Sotheby’s London has revealed the complete contents of the Lewis Collection, a magnificent assemblage of modern masterpieces that will command more than £200 million when it goes to auction this June. This extraordinary collection represents the highest estimate for any single-owner collection ever offered at auction in Europe.
The collection, assembled over decades by Joe Lewis and his daughter Vivienne, concentrates on figurative art from the modern era. At its heart lies Amedeo Modigliani’s sensuous nude “Nu assis au collier,” estimated in excess of £45 million, alongside Edgar Degas’ iconic bronze sculpture “Petite Danseuse de quatorze ans” and seven remarkable works by Pablo Picasso spanning eight decades of the artist’s career.
A Collection Born From Radical Vision
The Lewis Collection tells a story of artistic revolution and social transformation. Each work represents a moment when art challenged conventions and redefined cultural boundaries. From Modigliani’s scandalous nudes that shocked Parisian society in 1917 to Lucian Freud’s portraits that transformed contemporary figurative painting, these pieces chart the evolution of modern art through its most provocative moments.
“When we look at the Lewis Collection today, we see works of enormous power and beauty , so much so it can be easy to forget that, at the time they were created, many of these works sent shockwaves through the art world and polite society,” explains Oliver Barker, Sotheby’s Chairman, Europe. “The Lewises have always had an instinctive understanding of what made a work of art sensational in the true sense of the word, which is why, in this collection, we have not only one of the greatest groups of figurative art ever assembled, but also a collection that charts the highpoints of invention – the radical moments that changed the evolution of art as we know it.”
The Crown Jewel: Modigliani’s Revolutionary Nude
Leading this extraordinary collection is Modigliani’s “Nu assis au collier,” a painting that belongs to one of the most pivotal moments in art history. Created in 1917 during the artist’s first and only lifetime solo exhibition at Berthe Weill’s gallery in Paris, this work emerged from a series so controversial that police shut down the exhibition on its opening day. The nudes from this series have since become the works for which Modigliani is best known, with two paintings from the same year achieving record-breaking prices of $170.4 million and $157.2 million respectively.
The painting represents a masterful synthesis of influences, combining elements from Italian Renaissance portraiture, African sculpture, and Cubist geometry to create something entirely new. The anonymous sitter, wearing a coral necklace reminiscent of Renaissance portraits, embodies both classical tradition and modernist innovation. Her pose knowingly echoes the Venus pudica of classical antiquity while maintaining a distinctly contemporary sensuality.
Thomas Boyd-Bowman, Sotheby’s Head of Evening Sales for Impressionist & Modern Art in London, describes the work’s significance: “‘Nu assis au collier’ is a cornerstone within Modigliani’s celebrated series of nudes, distinguished by its restraint and psychological depth and , quite frankly , by its audaciousness. As restrained as she seems on the surface, this ‘modern-day Olympia’ nonetheless had the power to upturn tradition, causing a sensation. Her appearance on the market this June will, undoubtedly, be equally sensational.”
Degas’ Little Dancer
Another revolutionary work commanding attention is Edgar Degas’ “Petite Danseuse de quatorze ans,” estimated at £18-25 million. This extraordinary sculpture depicts Marie van Goethem, one of the ballet students at the Paris Opéra known as ‘little rats.’ When first exhibited in 1881 during the Sixth Impressionist Exhibition, the work shocked audiences with its unprecedented realism.
Degas’ unconventional approach extended beyond subject matter to materials themselves. Using real silk, tulle, and gauze for the dancer’s costume, and authentic hair from Madame Cusset, a supplier of materials for puppets and dolls, the artist blurred the boundaries between sculpture and reality. Contemporary critics were divided, with one asking, “Can art descend any lower?” while describing the dancer as possessing ‘bestial effrontery.’
Of the 27 bronze casts produced from this work, the vast majority now reside in major international museums, making appearances at auction exceptionally rare. Only four other examples have ever appeared at auction.
Picasso’s Intimate Portrait Of Dora Maar
Among the seven Picasso works is a particularly significant portrait of Dora Maar, the vibrant photographer and artist who became both Picasso’s muse and intellectual equal. This 1938 painting, unseen in public for over half a century, captures a rare moment of tenderness in their tumultuous relationship.
Dora Maar first caught Picasso’s attention while playing ‘knife roulette’ between her splayed fingers at Les Deux Magots café, a gesture that epitomised her fierce independence and provocative nature. Unlike the angular, jagged depictions that characterised most of Picasso’s portraits of Maar during the Spanish Civil War and Second World War, this work reveals a generous, lyrical interpretation of the woman with whom Picasso was still entirely besotted.
The portrait shows Maar’s famous hat, which held particular significance within the Surrealist movement. As critic Paul Éluard wrote in 1937: “Among the objects tangled in the web of life, the female hat is one of those that require the most insight, the most audacity. A head must dare to wear a crown.”
Contemporary Masters: Freud And Bacon’s Revolutionary Vision
The collection extends into contemporary art with Lucian Freud’s monumental “Sleeping by the Lion Carpet,” the final and most ambitious work in his celebrated series of portraits featuring Sue Tilley. Art critic Sebastian Smee has described these paintings as “among the most exciting and unprecedented paintings of the human figure in the history of art.” This particular work, estimated at £25-35 million, represents Freud’s radical reimagining of figurative painting for the modern era.
Francis Bacon’s presence in the collection is equally significant, with works that exemplify his unflinching examination of the human condition. His “Study for Portrait” from 1976 belongs to a pivotal group shown at Galerie Claude Bernard in 1977, widely considered the most important exhibition of the artist’s career. The painting, created in the shadow of his partner George Dyer’s death, fuses features from Bacon’s close circle into a single, psychologically complex presence.
The Collectors’ Vision
The Lewis Collection reflects a deep understanding of art’s transformative power. Joe Lewis, born and raised in London’s East End, developed an early affinity for the School of London painters whose work confronted human experience with uncompromising intensity. This passion evolved into a sophisticated appreciation for artists who challenged artistic conventions across different periods and movements.
“We came across these works, often unexpectedly and at different moments, and in every case we knew there was something about each one that meant it was for us,” reflects Vivienne Lewis. “While we have enjoyed and cherished these works, we haven’t always had the pleasure of seeing them together, largely because we’ve had the privilege of sharing them in different contexts , in relevant exhibitions, or to complement museum holdings. So to see them brought together now in one place is, even for us, something of a revelation, shining a light on the themes and storylines that have shaped our choices as collectors.”
Beyond The Headline Acts
The collection encompasses works by other masters who redefined artistic expression. René Magritte’s “La Belle promenade” features his iconic bowler-hatted man, reduced to a silhouette that had become widely recognisable by the 1960s.
Max Beckmann’s “Stillleben mit Grammophon und Schwertlilien” from 1924 represents the artist’s complex response to post-war Germany, while Henri Matisse’s charcoal study of Lydia Delectorskaya demonstrates his mastery of line and form during the pivotal 1930s.
Gustav Klimt’s “Bildnis Gertrud Loew,” Egon Schiele’s “Danaë,” and Gustav Caillebotte’s “Portrait de Paul Hugot” further demonstrate the collection’s breadth and quality. Each work represents a moment of artistic innovation that challenged prevailing aesthetic conventions.
Market Significance And Historical Context
The June sale follows Sotheby’s successful presentation of four School of London masterpieces from the Lewis Collection in March, which doubled their combined low estimate to realise £35.8 million. This achievement signals the market’s enthusiastic response to works of exceptional provenance and historical significance, comparable to other major sales like the £150 million Lewis Collection sale that captivated auction audiences.
Helena Newman, Sotheby’s Chairman for Europe and Chairman of Impressionist & Modern Art Worldwide, contextualises the collection’s importance: “The unveiling of Modigliani’s ‘Nu assis au collier’ alongside Degas’ ‘Petite danseuse de quatorze ans’ brings the enormous ambition of The Lewis Collection into sharp focus , a collection shaped by an instinctive recognition of what was most radical at the time, centred around works by artists that disrupted the status quo and altered the trajectory of modern art.”
A Monument To Artistic Vision
The Lewis Collection represents more than a commercial milestone; it embodies a philosophy of collecting that prioritises artistic significance over market trends. Each work in the collection carries the DNA of revolutionary thinking, representing moments when artists dared to challenge established norms and redefine artistic possibility. This approach mirrors other high-profile sales, such as the Donati Collection featuring a $40M Picasso, which similarly demonstrates the market’s appreciation for carefully curated masterpieces.
Oliver Barker reflects on the collection’s broader significance: “From Degas and Modigliani to Picasso and Freud, this group of works brings together some of the most powerful, most revolutionary, and most beautiful achievements in 20th-century figurative art. Having witnessed the Lewises build this collection with such care and passion over the years, it is a privilege to now see these works presented together, a testament to the remarkable coherence of the vision they have pursued for decades.”
As these masterpieces prepare for their public exhibition from 10-23 June at Sotheby’s London, they offer a rare opportunity to witness the evolution of modern art through works that fundamentally changed how we understand artistic expression. The Lewis Collection stands as a monument to the transformative power of art and the vision of collectors who recognised greatness in works that initially shocked and challenged their contemporary audiences.
The upcoming sale promises to be a defining moment in the European art market, bringing together masterpieces that have shaped our understanding of modern art while setting new benchmarks for the appreciation of revolutionary artistic vision. For art enthusiasts and collectors worldwide, the Lewis Collection represents an unprecedented opportunity to witness the convergence of artistic genius, historical significance, and collecting excellence in a single, extraordinary assemblage, joining the ranks of other notable auction milestones like Sotheby’s May Auctions featuring Rothko’s $100M masterpiece.
*Images: Sotheby’s
