Three major artworks from the collection of the late philanthropist and collector Agnes Gund will be offered at Christie's marquee May sales in New York. The lots include Mark Rothko's 'No. 15 (Two Greens and Red Stripe)' (estimated around $80 million), Cy Twombly's 1961 'Untitled' (estimated $40-60 million), and Joseph Cornell's 'Untitled (Medici Princess)' (estimated $3-5 million), all being sold on the secondary market for the first time.
The sale is significant due to the impeccable provenance and personal nature of the collection. Gund, a former president and longtime trustee of the Museum of Modern Art, lived with these works for decades, and the Rothko was purchased directly from the artist. This 'fresh-to-market' property arrives at a time when the auction market highly values such clean, storied provenance. The sale represents a final chapter for a collection that has already profoundly influenced museums through Gund's extensive donations and advocacy for underrepresented artists.