COURTESY CHRISTIE’S
A painting by Francis Bacon, Study of Henrietta Moraes Laughing (1969), from the collection of the late publisher S.I. Newhouse is slated for sale at Christie’s New York on November 15 as part of its postwar and contemporary art evening sale. The piece, which measures just 14 inches by 12 inches, is estimated at $14 million to $18 million. It is a one-off sale from Newhouse’s collection, and has only had two owners in its 49 years: the media giant himself, and before that, the artist’s sister, Ianthe Bacon.
Newhouse, who was co-owner of Advance Publications, which includes the Condé Nast empire among its holdings, died last October at the age of 89. Shortly after his death, his family announced that it had hired former Sotheby’s auctioneer Tobias Meyer to advise on his collection.
Christie’s CEO Guillaume Cerutti said in a release, “It is an honor for Christie’s to present Francis Bacon’s remarkable Study of Henrietta Moraes Laughing from the Collection of S.I. Newhouse. This consummate canvas by Bacon is a wonderful representation of Mr. Newhouse’s extraordinary eye for quality, that has been constantly reflected throughout his entire art collection.”