Sotheby’s London is presenting a specially curated exhibition of key lots from its forthcoming auctions at its New Bond Street galleries from June 5-8. Titled “The Value of Art: The Past & Future of Collecting,” the exhibition takes its cues from the exciting world of the art auction business to initiate an exploration of the relationship between money and art, in particular the different types of value that are assigned to objects and how they are assigned. The exhibition features a wide range of items with estimates ranging from £4,000 to £1,200,000.The exhibition explores the many facets of assigning value through a number of key pieces: the emotional value of collecting is highlighted through a first edition copy of C.S. Lewis’s literary masterpiece “The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe,” biographical value through Sir Winston Churchill’s wonderful painting “Flowers in a Green Glass Vase,” historical value through a Portrait of King Henry VIII from the workshop of Hans Holbein the Younger, and the value of rarity and originality through Pablo Picasso’s “Abstraction Geometrique” clay vessel.Joachim Anthonisz Wtewael’s miniature painting “Mars, Venus and Cupid” is juxtaposed with George Baselitz’s energetic “Exotenremix,” prompting the question “does size matter?”; a fine impression of Rembrandt’s rare print “Clump of Trees with a Vista” attests to the value of the alchemy of the artist; a preparatory sketch for Frederic Leighton’s celebrated “Flaming June” painting is the catalyst for dialogue surrounding the merit of preparatory works; while Thomas Heatherwick’s radical “Extrusion” Bench leads into a discussion surrounding the value of collecting for tomorrow.Complementing the exhibition is series of public talks with speakers including explorer Conrad Dickinson; Reino Liefkes, Head of ceramics at the V&A; Clive Aslet, Editor at Large of Country Life; and artist Martha Fiennes among others.
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