Liz Taylor Art Goes For $21.8M: Van Gogh, Degas, Pissarro

LONDON — Three top works from the late Hollywood star Elizabeth Taylor's art collection have sold at a London auction for nearly 14 million pounds ($22 million), the auctioneer Christie's said Tuesday.

The lot's biggest-selling item was Van Gogh's "Vue de l'asile de la Chapelle de Remy," which used to hang in the living room of Taylor's Bel Air home. The tan-and-turquoise landscape was sold for more than 10 million pounds (nearly $16 million) to an anonymous telephone bidder.

The two other pieces, a self-portrait by Edgar Degas and a landscape by Claude Pissarro, sold earlier in the evening.

Marc Porter, chairman of Christie's Americas, called the works the "crown jewel" of the showbiz legend's collection, and he said in a statement that the auctioneer hoped for more positive results when it offered the rest of Taylor's art collection Wednesday.

Taylor died in March at age 79, and Christie's has been selling off her possessions piecemeal.

Last month, the auctioneer sold a 17th-century portrait that once hung over Taylor's fireplace for $2 million. In December, Christie's sold her collection of jewelry, fashion and memorabilia for well over $100 million, including $8.8 million for a diamond ring given to her by Richard Burton, whom she married twice.

Prices include the buyer's premium.

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Online:

http://www.christies.com/

(This version CORRECTS Adds details, Corrects headline to note Van Gogh, not Cesar sold. This story is part of AP's general news, financial and entertainment services.)

Comments

[Robin Terrace]

12:57 PM on 02/08/2012

Liz definitely had class.

[orthobobsuruncle]

07:19 AM on 02/08/2012

And here I was thinking "Cr.p, you mean she could paint TOO?"

[SPIRITBRO77]

09:44 PM on 02/07/2012

Some may end up in museums. Perhaps the anonymous bidder was from the Met.... who knows?

[cookscove]

05:40 PM on 02/07/2012

These works of art, as well as all others of the same calibre, should not be in the living rooms of greedy collectors. They should be in museums where everyone on earth can see, study and enjoy them. It is an abomination that so many of the world's great works are seen by virtually no one.