Mondrian's 1920 Composition III to Lead Christie's London Sale with £30M Estimate
On October 14, 2026, Christie's will feature Piet Mondrian's iconic 1920 artwork, Composition III, at their 20th/21st Century: London Evening Sale, with a projected value between £20 million and £30 million (around $27 million to $41 million). This marks the painting's first appearance at auction, sourced from the collection of architect Armand P. Bartos and Celeste Bartos. Composition III showcases Mondrian's Neo-Plasticism, characterized by its use of primary colors and black lines. Following World War I, it represents a significant evolution towards geometric abstraction in his work. Prior to the auction, the piece will embark on an international tour before being exhibited at Christie's London starting October 8. Major institutions like Tate and MoMA possess works from Mondrian's 1920 era.
Key facts
- Piet Mondrian's Composition III, painted in 1920, will be auctioned at Christie's London on October 14, 2026.
- The painting carries an estimate of £20 million to £30 million (approximately $27 million to $41 million).
- Composition III will make its auction debut and has never previously appeared at auction.
- The work comes from the collection of architect Armand P. Bartos and his wife Celeste Bartos.
- The painting will be part of Christie's 20th/21st Century: London Evening Sale during Frieze Week.
- Composition III exemplifies Mondrian's Neo-Plasticism with primary colors, black lines, and areas of white and grey.
- The painting will travel to Zurich, Paris, New York, and Hong Kong before the sale.
- Several works from Mondrian's 1920 period are in major museum collections, including Tate, MoMA, and the Stedelijk Museum.
Entities
Artists
- Piet Mondrian
- Armand P. Bartos
- Celeste Bartos
- Yves Saint Laurent
- Pierre Bergé
Institutions
- Christie's
- Tate
- The Museum of Modern Art
- Stedelijk Museum
- MoMA
- Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna e Contemporanea
- Wilhelm-Hack Museum
- Léonce Rosenberg
Locations
- London
- United Kingdom
- Zurich
- Switzerland
- Paris
- France
- New York
- United States
- Hong Kong
- China
- Amsterdam
- Netherlands
- Rome
- Ludwigshafen
Sources
- Artcentron —
- Artlyst —