Three major artworks from the collection of the late arts patron Agnes Gund will be auctioned at Christie's in New York this May, with a combined minimum estimate of $123 million. The works include Mark Rothko's 'No. 15 (Two Greens and Red Stripe)' (est. ~$80 million), a Cy Twombly untitled painting from 1961 (est. $40-60 million), and Joseph Cornell's 'Untitled (Medici Princess)' from 1948 (est. $3-5 million).
The sale is notable because Gund, a former president of the Museum of Modern Art and a legendary philanthropist, rarely sold works from her collection during her lifetime, preferring to donate art and funds to museums and social justice causes. The proceeds from this auction will be used to settle her estate, marking a significant market event that highlights the dispersal of a landmark collection shaped by a deep commitment to art and civic engagement.