Mondrian's 'Composition III' Heads to Christie's London with £20-30M Estimate
On October 14, 2026, during Frieze Week, Christie's London will auction Piet Mondrian's 1920 artwork 'Composition III,' with an estimated value between £20-30 million ($27-41 million). This piece is among eight notable works created in 1920, with five residing in prominent museums. Characterized by geometric lines, rectangular shapes, and primary colors, it still shows signs of Mondrian's artistic touch. The painting was in the possession of architect Armand P. Bartos and Celeste from 1952 until 1973 and has not been available for purchase for many years. Mondrian's highest auction price stands at $51 million for 'Composition No. II' (1930), sold in 2022, with recent sales reaching $47.6 million and $39.7 million.
Key facts
- Piet Mondrian's 'Composition III' (1920) will be auctioned for the first time at Christie's London on October 14, 2026, during Frieze Week.
- Estimate: £20-30 million ($27-41 million).
- The painting is one of only eight significant works from 1920; five are in museum collections.
- Previous owners include Armand P. Bartos and Celeste (1952-1973).
- Mondrian's auction record is $51 million for 'Composition No. II' (1930) at Sotheby's in 2022.
- Recent Christie's sales: $47.6 million (1922 work) and $39.7 million (1921 work).
- In 2025, ten Mondrian works sold for over $71 million; in 2026, seven works brought nearly $45 million.
- Comparable work 'Composition No. III, with Red, Blue, Yellow, and Black' (1929) sold for $50.6 million at Christie's in 2015.
Entities
Artists
- Piet Mondrian
- Armand P. Bartos
- Celeste Bartos
Institutions
- Christie's
- Sotheby's
- Tate
- Museum of Modern Art
- Stedelijk Museum
- Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna e Contemporanea
- Wilhelm-Hack Museum
- Artnet
- The Museum of Modern Art
Locations
- London
- United Kingdom
- New York
- United States
- Amsterdam
- Netherlands
- Rome
- Italy
- Ludwigshafen
- Germany
- Paris
- France