Key facts
- Christie's will auction nearly 200 works from the personal collection of Peter Simon, founder of Monsoon.
- The collection is estimated to achieve between £86.5 million and £126.7 million.
- The sales will take place during Frieze week in October.
- Notable artists featured include Francis Bacon, Piet Mondrian, Joan Miró, Andy Warhol, and Pablo Picasso.
Christie's has announced it will auction "Monsoon: The Peter Simon Collection," featuring nearly 200 works from the personal collection of Peter Simon, the founder of the fashion retailer Monsoon. The collection is estimated to sell for between £86.5 million and £126.7 million, making it the highest-value single-owner collection ever offered at Christie's London in a single marquee week.
The sales are scheduled to take place during Frieze week in October. The collection spans modern and contemporary art, with pieces by renowned artists including Francis Bacon, Piet Mondrian, Joan Miró, Andy Warhol, Pablo Picasso, and Hurvin Anderson.
Notable works include two paintings by Francis Bacon, with 'Figure in Movement' (1978) estimated at £14 million to £18 million and 'Study for a Figure' (circa 1945) estimated at £4 million to £6 million. Modernist pieces by Ben Nicholson, such as '1934 (relief)', are also featured, with an estimate of £1 million to £2 million. Barbara Hepworth's 'The Hands and The Arm' is expected to fetch up to £250,000.
Works from the School of London, such as Frank Auerbach's 'Study of Primrose Hill' (estimated up to £3 million) and Leon Kossoff's 'Christ Church, Stormy Day, Summer' (estimated up to £600,000), will also be offered. Hurvin Anderson's 'Last House', which was part of his 2017 Turner Prize exhibition, is expected to sell for up to £3 million.
Simon described his collecting journey as a critical part of Monsoon's DNA, influenced by his work in fashion and textiles. He noted that sifting through portfolios to select works for fabric prints honed his ability to recognize good composition and color balance. He aimed to build links and foster dialogue across different worlds through his art choices, focusing on British artists and emerging contemporary figures.
Other significant pieces include Piet Mondrian's 'Composition A, with Double Line and Yellow' (1935), Joan Miró's 'Peinture (Les amants – Adam et Eve)' (1925), Fernand Léger's 'Le Siphon', and Pablo Picasso's 'Crâne, lampe, poireaux, pichet', painted shortly before the end of World War II and last publicly exhibited over 25 years ago. The collection also features Bridget Riley's 'Streak 2', Alighiero Boetti's 'Mappa', Willem de Kooning's 'Untitled' (1984), Jeff Koons' 'Baroque Egg with Bow (Blue/Turquoise)', and Andy Warhol's 'Diamond Dust Shoes'.
Joseph Braka, Christie's post war and contemporary art specialist, described the collection as "one of the finest and boldest ever assembled in the United Kingdom."
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