Sotheby's is poised to present the Leonard A. Lauder Collection this November, an event marking a once-in-a-generation sale that Sotheby's is poised to present the Leonard A. Lauder Collection this November, an event marking a once-in-a-generation sale that spans the breadth of modernism from its earliest stages to later contemporary reflections. This collection, a culmination of Leonard Lauder’s philosophy that his role was "not to possess it is to conserve," offers far more than a simple assembly of masterworks; it serves as a deep lesson in connoisseurship, reflecting decades of observation and learning.
The sheer impossibility of amassing such a group of works today underscores the collection's significance, as many of the finest examples by these modern masters now permanently reside in museums, often due to Lauder’s own previous acts of generosity. Sotheby's will showcase a selection of paintings, drawings, and sculptures that together trace the evolution of modern art, beginning with Van Gogh’s expertly rendered drawing, The Sewer, and moving through to Agnes Martin’s luminous canvas, The Garden.
Lauder's collecting journey, which began informally with postcards and propaganda posters, eventually honed an eye prepared for the complexities of fine art. By the late 1970s, he focused on Cubism, recognizing it as the most important movement of the early 20th century due to its demonstrable global influence. This focus led to the acquisition of a significant group of Picasso paintings and a sculpture, the bronze Head of a Woman of 1909, along with works by Braque and Léger. The highest standard, what the Lauder family refers to as the "Oh my god" kind of painting, was always the goal.
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Among the monumental pieces Sotheby's will offer is one of Edvard Munch’s most important paintings from the turn of the century, and six bronzes by Henry Matisse, including a complete suite of his busts of Henriette. The sale also features a late Picasso work on paper, originally a gift to his friend and doctor, Dr. Goodman. The provenance of these works is vital, linking the present day to their inception and giving them greater gravitas. The Van Gogh drawing, The Sewer, executed in Arles in 1888, exemplifies this, having passed from the artist to his friend Emil Bernard, through the hands of visionary Paris dealer Ambis Vollard, and eventually to the Lauder family collection in 1979.
A centerpiece of the upcoming sale is the group of three paintings by Gustav Klimt, a concentration of quality "actually unheard of" outside of a museum setting. Sotheby's will present two landscapes and a masterful full-length portrait. The magnificent Portrait of Elizabeth Lederer, described as a "superlative painting in every way" and a "masterpiece of 20th-century art," is one of the last great commissioned portraits by Klimt remaining in private hands. The portrait captures the regal authority and poise of Elizabeth, whose parents, Serena and August Lederer, were Klimt's greatest advocates and patrons. Klimt’s landscapes, such as the earlier, impressionistic, jewel-like canvas from 1908 and the later, looser Forest Slope (1916), demonstrate his push for experimentation, including his unique use of the modern square format, a technique unique in early 20th-century modernism. Having both landscapes and the full-length portrait offers an intense summary of Klimt's great work in his final years.
The intergenerational aspect of the collection is also evident in pieces like Kurt Schwitters' work, which Mr. Lauder purchased in 1966 at the G. David Thompson auction at Parke-Bernet. Parke-Bernet later became Sotheby's, connecting the sale directly to the acquisition history of the collection.
Lauder's legacy is further defined by his philanthropic commitment to public access and scholarship, including his leadership at the Whitney Museum of American Art and the establishment of the Leonard A. Lauder Research Center for Modern Art at the Met, ensuring that the story of his collecting will forever be vital. As such, this presentation by Sotheby's is not only a monumental auction but a capstone to a life dedicated to the conservation and public visibility of modern art.
