Sotheby’s is set to present three exceptional works from the esteemed collection of Harry Frank Guggenheim at their Modern Evening Auction this November.
These remarkable pieces, coming to market for the first time in nearly seven decades, offer a rare glimpse into the discerning taste of one of America’s most influential art patrons.
A Legacy of Innovation and Philanthropy
Harry Frank Guggenheim, a distinguished American businessman, philanthropist, and diplomat, played a pivotal role in founding the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York. His contributions extended far beyond the art world, encompassing aviation, diplomacy, and scientific research.
Fergus Duff, Sotheby’s Senior Director and International Specialist, remarked on Guggenheim’s extraordinary legacy: “Harry Frank Guggenheim exhibited an extraordinary drive for innovation, with contributions that profoundly influenced the very fabric of American life. These works, which will be coming to the market for the first time in nearly 70 years, serve as a testament to his bold vision, offering rare insight into the personal tastes of a man who was so critical in shaping modern art as we understand it today. They present a unique opportunity for collectors to continue in that esteemed legacy.”
Guggenheim was motivated by the conviction that wealth should be employed to further the advancement of humanity throughout his lifetime. The foundation that carries his name, as well as the works that are being offered at auction, are indicative of this philosophy.
Peter Lawson-Johnston II, Chair of The Harry Frank Guggenheim Foundation, highlighted the significance of the sale: “A visionary leader and thinker who propelled the Guggenheim family into a new era, Harry Frank Guggenheim dedicated his life to innovative artistic, scientific, and philanthropic endeavours of great impact, driven by a belief that wealth should be used to advance the betterment of humanity. The proceeds of these works will support The Harry Frank Guggenheim Foundation’s mission to understand and control urgent problems of violence through research and other forms of knowledge creation that shape scholarship, inform policy, and drive meaningful change.”
Franz Marc’s Iconic Equine Vision
One of the standout pieces in the collection is Franz Marc’s “Das Lange Gelbe Pferd” (The Long Yellow Horse), created in 1913. Estimated at $8-12 million, this striking work exemplifies Marc’s most iconic subject matter and represents a pivotal moment in the artist’s career.
Completed on the eve of World War I, “Das Lange Gelbe Pferd” captures Marc’s transition from German Romanticism towards a more abstract style. The painting showcases the artist’s fascination with horses, a subject deeply rooted in the work of Théodore Géricault. However, while Géricault often depicted horses in domesticated contexts, Marc chose to focus on the animal’s intrinsic energy and spirituality.
For Marc, these equine depictions were less about accurately portraying the animal and more about capturing its core essence.
He aimed to depict animals “from the inside,” believing they embodied a divine purity lost to humankind. As Marc reflected in 1915, “People with their lack of piety, especially men, never touched my true feelings. But animals, with their virginal sense of life, awakened all that was good in me.”
The vivid colour palette employed in “Das Lange Gelbe Pferd” carries significant symbolic weight. Marc believed that “Blue is the male principle, astringent and spiritual. Yellow is the female principle, gentle, gay, and spiritual. Red is matter, brutal and heavy, and always to be opposed by the other two.”
The luminous paint and rich brushwork in this piece evoke a spiritual warmth, strength, and vitality, suggesting hope amidst the impending turmoil of war.
Alberto Giacometti’s Brotherly Tribute
Another highlight of the auction is Alberto Giacometti’s “Buste (Tête tranchante) (Diego)”, conceived in 1953 and cast by 1954. With an estimate of $10-15 million, this sculpture represents one of Giacometti’s most significant subjects: his brother Diego.
Giacometti first used Diego as a model in 1914, and by the 1950s, Diego had inspired numerous sculptures that bore a striking resemblance to both Alberto and Diego, lending these works a semi-autobiographical quality. The “knife-blade” heads, characterised by the thinness and frontal verticality of the face, are considered among the most significant works ever created by Giacometti.
Alberto Giacometti moved to Paris in 1920, where Diego became his trusted assistant, helping with essential aspects of his work. Over time, Alberto shifted from elongated post-war figures to more naturalistic sculptures, often working from memory. “Buste (Tête tranchante) (Diego)” exemplifies this shift, with its rough, expressive surfaces capturing both the artist’s hand and the complexity of human presence.
The sculpture’s significance is further enhanced by its exhibition history. Soon after its conception and casting, Harry Guggenheim acquired the piece and lent it to an exhibition devoted to Giacometti’s work at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in 1955.
This historic event was instrumental in the artist’s enduring reputation in North America, as it was Giacometti’s inaugural museum exhibition and the Guggenheim’s inaugural significant sculpture exhibition.
Paul Gauguin’s Ceramic Masterpiece
The third work in this extraordinary trio is Paul Gauguin’s “La Femme noire”, created in 1889. Estimated at $700,000 – $1 million, this rare ceramic piece is widely recognised as one of the most important surviving sculptures produced by the artist.
Executed before Gauguin’s visit to Tahiti and after his tumultuous stay with Vincent van Gogh in Arles, “La Femme noire” marks a turning point in the artist’s career. Created upon his return to Brittany following a visit to Martinique in late 1886, this glazed stoneware sculpture showcases Gauguin’s signature blending of cultural motifs from western and pre-colonial iconographies.
The sculpture features a Martiniquais woman with a male head on her lap, combining references to Venus with allusions to biblical narratives, particularly the beheading of John the Baptist. It also reflects Gauguin’s own experience of witnessing the beheading of notorious murderer Prado in Paris in late 1888.
This work signifies a significant shift from Gauguin’s earlier Judeo-Christian themes, instead utilising a new, more personal symbolism that explores complex motifs of death, regeneration, and spirituality.
Gauguin’s approach to ceramics is believed to have been inspired by French ceramicist Ernest Chaplet, who encouraged him to try the medium. The artist was also responding to a revival in artisanal craft, which drove a generation to turn away from the mass production of the French Industrial Revolution and focus on the importance of hand-facture in art and design.
Coming to public sale for the first time, “La Femme noire” represents a rare opportunity for collectors to acquire a pivotal work in Gauguin’s oeuvre, bridging his earlier artistic explorations with the more primitive and symbolic style that would define his later career.
The Harry Frank Guggenheim Foundation: A Legacy of Impact
The proceeds from the sale of these exceptional works will benefit The Harry Frank Guggenheim Foundation, an organisation that embodies the visionary spirit of its founder. Established in 1929, the foundation supports rigorous research and scholarship on human violence, inspired by Harry Guggenheim’s firsthand experiences with the brutality of war and revolution.
The foundation’s mission is to deepen understanding of the causes, manifestations, and effects of human violence, with the ultimate goal of reducing its impact on individuals and societies. Through competitive grants and fellowships, original research, publications, and collaborative efforts with academia, philanthropy, and civil society, the foundation strives to contribute to a safer, better-informed world.
Harry Frank Guggenheim’s legacy extends far beyond his contributions to the art world. A true Renaissance man, he traversed a wide array of fields, including diplomacy, military service, business, and philanthropy. He served as a naval aviator in both world wars and later as the U.S. Ambassador to Cuba from 1933 to 1934, earning the trust and counsel of five U.S. presidents.
Guggenheim’s passion for aviation led to a pivotal role in advancing early flight technology and research. As president of the Daniel and Florence Guggenheim Foundation, he sponsored much of Dr Robert H. Goddard’s pioneering development of modern rocket and jet propulsion.
His support of initiatives through the Daniel Guggenheim Fund for the Promotion of Aeronautics nurtured a nascent commercial aviation sector, advanced the science and availability of meteorology, and founded schools of aeronautical engineering throughout the United States.
In the realm of art, Harry Guggenheim’s contribution to the establishment of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York was instrumental. As chairman of the board of trustees of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation after Solomon’s death in 1949, he championed the controversial choice of Frank Lloyd Wright as the Museum’s architect and played the role of mediator between Wright and director James Sweeney.
He helped drive important acquisitions for the Museum’s collection, worked with leadership to build a programming strategy, and conceived of a global awards competition, ‘Guggenheim International’, for groundbreaking artists, connecting the New York art world to artists abroad.
A Unique Opportunity for Collectors
The upcoming Sotheby’s auction presents a rare opportunity for collectors to acquire works of exceptional provenance and historical significance.
These three pieces – Franz Marc’s “Das Lange Gelbe Pferd”, Alberto Giacometti’s “Buste (Tête tranchante) (Diego)”, and Paul Gauguin’s “La Femme noire” – not only represent important moments in each artist’s career but also offer insight into the discerning eye of one of America’s most influential art patrons.
As these works come to market for the first time in nearly seven decades, they carry with them the weight of Harry Frank Guggenheim’s legacy – a legacy that spans art, philanthropy, innovation, and a commitment to human progress.
The sale of these pieces will not only allow new collectors to become part of this storied history but will also continue to support the important work of The Harry Frank Guggenheim Foundation, ensuring that Harry’s vision of using wealth for the betterment of humanity continues well into the future.
As the art world eagerly anticipates this landmark auction, it’s clear that the impact of these works, and the man who collected them, will continue to resonate far beyond the walls of Sotheby’s auction room. The sale serves as a testament to the enduring power of art to inspire, challenge, and ultimately, to change the world for the better.
Images: Sotheby’s
