Marilyn Arison's Impressionist Collection Heads to Christie's Marquee Week Auctions

Christie's will auction Marilyn Arison's collection of early modern art during its New York Marquee Week sales. The sale, titled "Lasting Impression: The Collection of Marilyn Arison," features works by Édouard Manet, Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, and Pierre Bonnard. Manet's "Pivoines dans une bouteille," estimated at $7–10 million, is the last privately held Manet painting of peonies. Matisse's "Nature morte, fougères et grenades," painted in Venice in 1947, was a family favorite displayed in the Arison home. Arison, who died last year, founded the YoungArts foundation with her husband Ted in 1981 and received a National Medal of Arts from President Barack Obama. Her granddaughter Sarah Arison, now Chairman of YoungArts, recalled their art-inspired travels through Europe that led to Marilyn's book "Travels With Van Gogh and the Impressionists." Christie's Global Chairman Max Carter noted Arison's fascination with juxtaposing artists like Manet and Matisse addressing similar subjects. The Arison sale highlights female philanthropists this season, alongside the upcoming Agnes Gund collection sale featuring Mark Rothko, Cy Twombly, and Joseph Cornell.