Christie’s has announced the sale of the private collection of the late legendary art dealer Marian Goodman, who passed away in January at age 97. Estimated to bring in approximately $65 million, the collection is headlined by a group of significant works by Gerhard Richter, an artist Goodman championed for four decades. The centerpiece of the auction is Richter’s 1982 painting "Kerze (Candle)," which carries a high estimate of $50 million and will lead a series of dedicated sales in New York this May.
This consignment represents a major market moment, highlighting the deep personal and professional bond between one of the 20th century's most influential gallerists and her star artist. By bringing these long-held, "prime examples" to the block, the sale tests the current appetite for blue-chip contemporary art and Richter’s enduring market strength. The transition of these works from Goodman’s private "garden" to the public market marks the end of an era for a dealer who was instrumental in introducing European avant-garde artists to the American scene.