Paintings by the late US president Jimmy Carter, along with personal effects from his family, will be auctioned at Christie's in New York this month as part of a sale titled "We the People: America at 250," marking the country's semiquincentennial. The works were selected by his daughter Amy Carter and include scenes of a Georgia church, a still-life with a pomegranate, a waterfall, and a historical painting titled "The Hornet's Nest" (2003), with estimates ranging from $2,000 to $12,000. Also offered are a portrait of Carter by Don Powers, scarves with a peanut print, ties, a Stetson hat, a coffee table made by Carter, and a copy of Chairman Mao's quotations.
This sale matters because it offers a rare glimpse into the personal and artistic life of a former US president, highlighting Carter's post-presidency passion for painting, which he described as a private escape. The auction also connects to Carter's broader legacy, including his role in re-establishing US-China relations and brokering the Camp David Accords, as reflected in the inclusion of his copy of Mao's quotations and books on the Middle East. The event underscores how art can humanize historical figures and intertwine with political history.