Sotheby's Paris is selling "The Manny Davidson Collection: A Life in Treasures and Benevolence," a multi-owner sale of nearly 500 lots spanning Old Masters, 19th-century British paintings, 18th-century gold enamel, and decorative objects. Highlights include a rediscovered Michael Sweerts portrait estimated at €800,000–€1.2 million, a Thomas de Keyser portrait of a silversmith, and a Joshua Reynolds self-portrait study. The sale, which includes an evening auction on November 5 and an online component, was previewed by Sotheby's global head of private sales, Old Masters, Chloe Stead.
The collection belonged to the late Manny Davidson, a wealthy property magnate and collector known for his eclectic taste and philanthropy. The sale matters because it brings to market a trove of rediscovered and rarely seen works, including a Sweerts painting that could benefit from the momentum of a similar work that sold for over $16 million at Christie's in 2023. It also highlights the ongoing strength of the Old Masters market and the growing trend of single-owner collections being sold at auction.