Pieces of Harry Frank Guggenheim’s collection go to auction

An image of a large yellow horse. — Franz Marc, *Das Lange Gelbe Pferd*1913; Respect. $8-12 million. Courtesy of Sotheby’s

Following the recent announcement that beauty mogul Sydell Miller’s prestigious collection would be auctioned, Sotheby’s has unveiled three masterpieces from Harry Frank Guggenheim’s collection that will be brought to the center. The move could generate some excitement and maintain interest in the upcoming November Evening Sales in New York City, despite a persistent refrigeration market. The November auctions will also mark Sotheby’s move to a new New York headquarters in the former Whitney/Met Breuer building on the Upper East Side. While the auction house is reported to be having some cash problems due to delays in payments to shippers and conservators, funds recently invested by Abu Dhabi-based sovereign wealth fund ADQ should provide some relief, and significant elements of next month’s sale – composition, which includes works by Monet, Kandinsky, Gauguin and Giacometti, among others, will likely make this season a more successful one.

This particular Guggenheim was an influential American businessman, philanthropist, diplomat, and cultural figure who played a key role in founding the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York. Not only did he bring significant acquisitions to the institution, but he also facilitated the first American presentations of several leading European modernists, including Giacometti. It is therefore not surprising that one of the main attractions of the Modern Evening Auction at Sotheby’s will be a bust of Alberto Giacometti entitled Buste (Tête trenchant) (Diego)which the Guggenheim acquired shortly after being cast. The Guggenheim also played a key role in organizing Giacometti’s first American exhibition in 1955, commemorating the museum’s first contact with sculpture and introducing the artist’s work to North America.

SEE ALSO: Laura Doyle is a decision-maker at the largest auction house in the US run by women

The painting, conceived in 1953 and cast in 1954, depicts Giacometti’s brother Diego and demonstrates the artist’s characteristic combination of psychological intensity and physical form through rough, expressive surfaces. Estimated at $10-15 million, the bust is considered one of the finest examples of Giacometti’s sculptural work from this period and a landmark work that highlights the early relationship between the artist and the Guggenheim family.

An image of a bronze bust of a man. — Alberto Giacometti, *Buste (Tête tranchante) (Diego), ca*once created in 1953 and cast in 1954; Respect. $10-15 million. Courtesy of Sotheby’s

Another important attraction of this prestigious collection that will be auctioned is a living painting by Franz Marc Das Lange Gelbe Pferd (Long Yellow Horse) from 1913. The painting is the quintessence of Marc’s characteristic motif, a horse that was the central element of the Der Blaue Reiter (Blue Rider) movement, which he co-founded with Wassily Kandinsky. Marc’s depiction of horses was inspired by the work of Théodore Géricault, who often painted them alongside heroic cavalry officers as symbols of courage and nationalism. However, Marc’s approach is different, emphasizing the spiritual essence and inner energy of the animal, reflecting his belief in the superiority of animal purity over human nature. In keeping with Der Blaue Reiter’s spiritual philosophy, Marc sought to capture the horse’s inner spirit, not just its physicality. As he wrote in 1915: “People with their lack of piety, especially men, have never touched my true feelings. But animals, with their virgin sense of life, awakened everything good in me.” This work is expected to cost between $8 million and $12 million in November.

Sotheby’s will also offer a significant ceramic sculpture by Paul Gauguin titled La Femme Noire (1889), one of the artist’s most important surviving sculptures. Estimated at $1,000,000, the work exemplifies Gauguin’s stylistic evolution in Martinique and Brittany, freely combining Western and pre-colonial motifs. The work, made of glazed stoneware, depicts a Martiniquais woman holding a man’s head in her lap – a symbolic combination of references to Venus and biblical narratives such as the beheading of John the Baptist. This sculpture is a noticeable departure from Gauguin’s earlier Judeo-Christian motifs, revealing his unique and increasingly personal symbolism.

An image of a sculpture of a woman with her head on her lap. — Paul Gauguin, *La Femme noire*1889; Respect. $700,000 – $1,000,000. Courtesy of Sotheby’s

Who was Harry Frank Guggenheim?

Known for his passionate commitment to philanthropic endeavors, Harry F. Guggenheim was a complex figure and a true Renaissance man. As an avid collector, he played a key role in redefining the Guggenheim family as stewards of a global art institution. Serving as a trustee of the Guggenheim Foundation, Harry was deeply involved in shaping the direction of the museum. After the death of his uncle, Solomon R. Guggenheim, he assumed a leadership role, becoming a key mediator between the noted architect Frank Lloyd Wright, who designed the museum, and the museum’s director, James Sweeney. Wright once remarked, “Harry doesn’t like controversy. Harry likes to win.

Guggenheim’s contributions were both practical and strategic. He helped secure financing for the project and ensured that the building was consistent with Wright’s now iconic design. Using his knowledge of the arts and his extensive network of contacts, he facilitated the museum’s major acquisitions, worked with management to develop programming strategy, and created the Guggenheim International, a global award recognizing pioneering talent.

He was also a man with diverse interests and desires. He grew up in the United States, Mexico and England, played tennis competitively, and in 1913 even played at Wimbledon. Later he took up horse breeding and racing. He was the United States ambassador to Cuba from 1933 to 1934 and flew as a naval pilot during both world wars, which began his lifelong passion for aviation. As president of the Daniel and Florence Guggenheim Foundation, he funded Dr. Robert H. Goddard’s groundbreaking research in modern rocket and jet propulsion, supported initiatives to advance commercial aviation and meteorology, and founded aerospace engineering schools throughout the United States.

“Harry Frank Guggenheim demonstrated a remarkable drive for innovation, and his contributions had a profound impact on the very fabric of American life,” Sotheby’s senior director and international specialist Fergus Duff said in a statement. “These works, appearing on the market for the first time in almost 70 years, are a testament to his bold vision, offering a rare insight into the personal tastes of a man who was so critical in shaping contemporary art as we understand it today. They represent a unique opportunity for collectors to continue this valued legacy.

Proceeds from the sale of the above works will be donated to the Harry F. Guggenheim Foundation, which was established in 1929 and supports rigorous research and scholarship on human violence by awarding competitive grants and fellowships, conducting and commissioning research, publishing reports, and organizing conferences, seminars research and public discussions.