The sale proceeds will go toward philanthropic causes Allen established prior to his death in 2018 at the age of 65. A second tranche of the total 150 works from Allen’s estate to be sold by Christie’s will be offered in a day sale on Thursday.
Georges Seurat’s Les Poseuses, Ensemble (Petite version), a canvas depicting three nude women in a pointillist style that the artist produced between 1888 and 1890, fetched the highest price overall, $149 million. Coming close was Paul Cezanne’s La Montagne Sainte-Victoire, a painting of a panoramic view of the French Arc Valley (1888 and 1890), at a bid of $120 million.