This article details the historic sale of three major artworks from the private collection of the late Agnes Gund, the former president of the Museum of Modern Art and a renowned philanthropist. The sale, held at Christie’s in New York, featured works by Mark Rothko, Cy Twombly, and Joseph Cornell that had long resided in Gund’s private residence. The highlight of the evening was Rothko’s 1964 painting 'No. 15 (Two Greens and Red Stripe),' which set a new auction record for the artist at $98.4 million, contributing to a total of $150.8 million for the three pieces.
Beyond the financial figures, the piece reflects on Gund’s immense legacy as a patron who prioritized artists and social justice. Known for her 'fluid' approach to collecting, she donated over 1,800 works to institutions and famously sold a Lichtenstein masterpiece to fund criminal justice reform. The article contrasts her deep-seated commitment to public institutions and artistic exchange with the more insular philanthropic habits of modern billionaires, cementing her reputation as one of the most influential and generous figures in the history of the New York art world.