Bonhams is proud to announce the landmark auction, The Alan and Simone Hartman Collection: The Inaugural Sale, this winter in New York. The esteemed art and antique gallerist Alan Hartman (1930-2023) and his wife Simone amassed an extraordinary personal collection of Impressionist works of art by the greatest names in art history, as well as a stunning and extensive array of Asian Art. Following a world tour to Bonhams salerooms in Paris, London, and Hong Kong, 23 works of Fine Art and 70 works of Asian Art will be presented as a single-owner sale on December 14 in New York, with Part II of the Asian Art collection to be presented during March Asia Week 2024 and in future Chinese and Japanese auctions at Bonhams.
"Alan and Simone Hartmans' legacy as dealers and as patrons is unparalleled, and their collection stands as a testament to their dedication in celebrating the beauty and craftsmanship of art from around the world," commented Bruno Vinciguerra, CEO of Bonhams and The Bonhams Network. "The collection is a compendium of important paintings from the critical early movements in the history of Modern Art, and we are honoured to share these exceptional pieces with the world."
Alan Hartman acquired his first piece of jade at the young age of 12. From that moment until his passing earlier this year, his passion for collecting antiques and works of art framed his life. Alan established the legendary Rare Art Gallery on Madison Avenue in New York, with locations in Dallas and Palm Beach, providing a multitude of works of art that spanned many disciplines and locations around the world. With his wife Simone, the two became recognised as distinguished patrons of the arts, establishing an illustrious collection for over half a century. The Hartmans have greatly enriched the collections of major institutions worldwide, including the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Brooklyn Museum in New York, and the Israel Museum in Jerusalem.
Offered in the sale includes masterpieces by Impressionist and Modern luminaries
Paul Signac (1863-1935),
Claude Monet (1840-1926),
Alfred Sisley (1839-1899) and
Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919), Jeune fille au profil, 16 14 x 12 1316 in. (41.2 x 32.5 cm). Painted circa 1898) Estimate: $1.5-2 million. Photo: Bonhams.
Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919),
and exquisite pieces from their collection of Asian art, including fine Tang and Ming ceramics, elegant jade carvings, stunning Japanese art and ancient Chinese bronzes.
Leading the sale is Paul Signac's masterwork Sisteron (1902) estimated at $4,000,000 – 6,000,000. One of only nine works painted by the artist that year, Sisteron depicts a town also known as the Gateway to Provence, situated in a narrow gap between two mountain ranges. The scene is rendered in marvellous, shimmering Pointillist brushwork. Signac evokes the essence of Fauvism with his brilliant use of vibrant colour, and as a primary developer of the Pointillism technique, he defines the mountainous terrain and dramatic light on the canvas through a profusion of small dots of pure colour; each bright mark contributing to the whole.
Another major highlight of the sale is Claude Monet's La Seine près de Giverny (1888), estimated at $4,000,000 – 6,000,000. La Seine près de Giverny offers a clear account of Monet's advance toward, and ensuing mastery of, the Impressionist style. The painting details a calming bend in the Seine River just outside of the artist's home of Giverny, where it was common for the artist to paint directly from his boat to record the impression of serenity felt in the moment.
While the Hartmans delighted in collecting impeccable Impressionist and Modern artworks, the core of their collection was built around Chinese and Japanese works of art. Highlights from this category include two rare and massive Imperial Jiajing mark and period (1521-1567) blue and white porcelains, a stunning pair of imposing 'Famille Verte' double-gourd vases, Kangxi (1662-1723) set in ormolu mounts, an important group of Chinese archaic bronzes, and a spectacular selection of Japanese lacquer suzuribako.
Dessa Goddard, VP and US Head of Asian Art, Bonhams, said, "Alan Hartman was one of the most influential dealers of Asian Art, and together with Simone created a preeminent collection of Chinese jade, bronzes and Asian works of art. We are thrilled to offer highlights from their personal collection in this Inaugural December auction in New York and in forthcoming sales worldwide."
Additional Asian Art highlights include:
· The Bishop Collection. Investigations and Studies in Jade. Two volumes, estimated at $150,000 – 200,000
· A massive Ming blue and white dragon basin, Jiajing six-character mark and period, estimated at $70,000 – 100,000
· Ming gilt bronze figure of Weituo, 16th/17th century, estimated at $60,000 – 90,000
· Massive Ming blue and white jar, Jiajing six-character mark and of the period, estimated at $60,000 – 80,000
· Fine and rare white jade vase, 18th century, estimated at $50,000 – 70,000
Further highlights of Impressionist and Modern paintings include:
· Alfred Sisley (1839-1899), La Seine à Suresnes, (c. 1879) estimated at $1,000,000 – 1,500,000. Sisley's delicate brushwork and meticulous attention to light and atmosphere create a tranquil and ethereal scene.
· Jeune fille au profil (c. 1898), a portrait by Pierre-Auguste Renoir estimated at $1,500,000 – 2,000,000. A tour-de force of painting both in colour and detail – fluttering trim and soft contours elevate this portrait of a girl to an eternal symbol of beauty and domestic serenity.
· Camille Pissarro (1830-1903), Le Pont-Royal, temps gris lumineux (1903), estimated at $1,200,000 – 1,800,000.
· Gustave Caillebotte (1848-1894), Portraits dans un intérieur (1877), estimated at $700,000 – 1,000,000.
· Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (1864-1901), Princeteau dans son atelier (1881), estimated at $600,000 – 800,000.
The Alan and Simone Hartman Collection will be offered on December 14 at Bonhams New York. Highlights from the sale will tour Bonhams salerooms around the world, beginning in Paris from October 3-5, London from October 14-16, and Hong Kong from October 26-29.