Mondrian's 1920 Composition III to Debut at Christie's London with £20–30M Estimate
On 14th October 2026, during Frieze Week, Christie's will present Piet Mondrian's Composition III, created in 1920, at their 20th/21st Century: London Evening Sale. This marks the first auction of the piece, with an estimated value between £20–30 million. It is the most notable Mondrian sale in Europe since 2009. Of the eight existing paintings from 1920, five are held in institutions like Tate and MoMA. Featuring a grid of colors including red, yellow, blue, black, white, and grey, the artwork has a prominent yellow square at its center. The meticulous creation process lasted several months, and it was previously owned by architect Armand P. Bartos. Before its public showing in London starting 8th October, the painting will tour various Christie's locations. Keith Gill emphasized its exceptional rarity and importance.
Key facts
- Piet Mondrian's Composition III (1920) will be auctioned for the first time at Christie's London on 14 October 2026.
- Estimate: £20–30 million.
- Described as the most important Mondrian at auction in Europe since 2009.
- Only eight paintings by Mondrian exist from 1920; five are in museum collections.
- The painting will be exhibited in Zurich, Paris, New York, and Hong Kong before London.
- Previous owners include Armand P. Bartos and Celeste Bartos.
- Mondrian wrote Le Néo-Plasticisme in 1920, published in 1921.
- Public viewing in London starts 8 October 2026.
Entities
Artists
- Piet Mondrian
- Armand P. Bartos
- Celeste Bartos
Institutions
- Christie's
- Tate
- The Museum of Modern Art
- Stedelijk Museum
- Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna e Contemporanea
- Wilhelm-Hack Museum
Locations
- London
- United Kingdom
- Zurich
- Switzerland
- Paris
- France
- New York
- United States
- Hong Kong
- China
- Amsterdam
- Netherlands
- Rome
- Italy
- Ludwigshafen
- Germany