Blaquier collection to be auctioned by Sotheby's for $450 million

Sotheby's has secured a major Impressionist art consignment valued at approximately $450 million, belonging to the late Argentine collectors Nelly Arrieta de Blaquier and Carlos Pedro Blaquier. This collection represents one of the most significant private holdings of Impressionism and Post-Impressionism in Latin America.

The auction features several high-value masterpieces, most notably Vincent van Gogh’s 1890 work ‘Châtaignier en fleurs roses et blanches’, which is estimated to reach between $150 million and $200 million. Other notable pieces include a Cézanne from the ‘Harlequin’ series, expected to exceed $120 million, as well as works by Degas, Pissarro, and Renoir.

The sale follows a period of legal scrutiny; in 2023, Argentine customs fined the family regarding the export of several works to Luxembourg. However, authorities recently lifted the sanctions, clearing the inclusion of various pieces in the Sotheby's sale. The Blaquier family, known for their philanthropic contributions to Argentine cultural institutions, has not issued an official statement regarding the upcoming auction.