How Much Will René Magritte’s Empire of Light Fetch at Auction?
How Much Will René Magritte’s Empire of Light Fetch at Auction?
René Magritte, a prominent Belgian surrealist artist, is internationally regarded for his thought-provoking, witty, and unexpected depictions of familiar objects.
Like every great artist, Magritte influenced other painters, creating imagery that inspired conceptual art, minimalist art, and pop art.
Many world-famous artists have stated they were heavily influenced by Magritte, including Andy Warhol, Jasper Johns, Martin Kippenberger, and John Baldessari, to name a few.
Also, a hauntingly beautiful painting from Magritte’s series The Empire of Light could soon break his record, as it may sell for more than $95 million at auction in November.
So, how much will René Magritte’s The Empire of Light fetch at auction? Read on to make an informed prediction.
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Why René Magritte’s Empire of Light is So Popular
L’Empire des Lumieres, which translates as The Empire of Light in English, is “the most important surrealist work ever to appear at auction,” according to Christie’s.
The surrealist oil painting from 1954 is one of 27 works Magritte painted from the 1940s to 1960s, and it is a haunting depiction of simultaneous day and night.
In true Magritte style, the painting draws the eye and provokes opinion, as it has a sunlit sky over a darkened yet illuminated street.
When discussing the series in a televised interview in 1956, Magritte said, “What is represented in a picture is what is visible to the eyes, it is the thing or things that must have been ideated. Thus, what is represented in the picture The Empire of Light are the things I ideated, i.e. a nighttime landscape and a sky such as we see during the day. The landscape evokes night and the sky evokes day. I call this power: poetry.”
A Record-Breaking Magritte
If the painting sells for $95 million or higher, it will break Magritte’s record at auction.
His most expensive painting to date is another piece from the formal series, which nearly tripled the surrealist’s previous record, selling for $79.7 million (£59.4 million) at Sotheby’s in London, England, in 2022.
The painting scheduled to be sold at Christie’s New York belongs to the estate of the late Mica Ertegun, who was a talented interior designer with an eye for stunning works of art.
She was married to Ahmet Ertegun, a passionate art collector and the co-founder of Atlantic Records.
In addition to owning The Empire of Light, other famous works are included in her large art collection, including additional works by Magritte.
Highlights include Magritte’s La cour d’amour (1960), David Hockney’s Three Chairs with a Section of a Picasso Mural (1970), Miró’s Peinture (Amour) (1925), and Ingrid Donat’s Chaise Longue, to name a few. Also, she had a Polaroid photo of herself taken by Andy Warhol.
The Empire of Light’s Auction Date
Christie’s is scheduled to host a dedicated auction of Mica Ertegun’s varied art collection on November 19, 2024, in New York, USA, which will include The Empire of Light. Also, it will hold two online sales and daytime auctions for her various pieces.
According to an auction house spokesperson, a significant portion of the proceeds from Mica’s art collection will support her philanthropic initiatives.
For instance, she reportedly supported various worthy causes, such as the World Monuments Fund, Jazz at Lincoln Center, and the Graduate Scholarship Programme in the Humanities at Oxford University.