Surrealism hits new heights as Mica Ertegun’s collection ignites auction season in New York
By Staff Writer with Agencies | Art & Culture Desk
New York, Nov. 20, 2024
In a historic night for the art world, René Magritte’s L’empire des lumières (Empire of Light, 1954) shattered records at Christie’s on Tuesday, selling for a jaw-dropping US$121.1 million, the highest price ever achieved for the Belgian Surrealist master, or any Surrealist artwork to date.
The canvas, long celebrated for its eerie contradiction of daylight skies over nocturnal landscapes, headlined MICA: THE COLLECTION OF MICA ERTEGUN Part I, a single-owner evening sale devoted to the late interior design doyenne. The record-setting work now places Magritte among an elite echelon of artists whose works have surpassed the US$100 million mark, a club that includes Leonardo da Vinci and Andy Warhol.
A 10-Minute Bidding War and a Surrealist Milestone
Offered as Lot 19A, Empire of Light was expected to fetch around US$95 million, already far surpassing Magritte’s previous record of US$78.4 million set in 2022. But what ensued was a tense and theatrical 10-minute bidding war that began at US$75 million and quickly escalated. The showdown ultimately came down to a duel between Christie’s Deputy Chairman Xin Li-Cohen and 20/21 Chairman Alex Rotter’s client.
As the hammer finally fell at US$105 million, the saleroom erupted in applause — with buyer’s premium, the final price soared to US$121,160,000. “Which currency?” quipped auctioneer Adrien Meyer, alluding to the probable international nature of the winning bid.
این اثر از رنه ماگریت گرونترین اثریه که سال ۲۰۲۴ در حراجیها فروخته شده.
قیمت نهایی: 121,160,000$René Magritte
The Empire of Light pic.twitter.com/AeNMMvlVPA— Artunity (@Artunity_art) December 14, 2024
The Painting, the Legacy, the Light
L’empire des lumières is one of 17 oil versions Magritte painted over fifteen years, each juxtaposing a serene daytime sky with the shadows of a nocturnal street scene. This particular version — the only one to include a shimmering body of water — was created in 1954 for Belgian collector Willy Van Hove and eventually acquired by Mica Ertegun in 1968.
Inspired by André Breton’s evocative line, “If only the sun would shine tonight,” the painting stands as one of the purest visual paradoxes in modern art. The motif first appeared in 1949, and the composition has since become one of Magritte’s most iconic, widely recognized even outside of Surrealist circles.
The Woman Behind the Collection
The monumental sale not only underscores Magritte’s market ascent but also celebrates the refined taste of Mica Ertegun, the Romanian-born interior designer and co-founder of MAC II. Ertegun, who passed away last year at the age of 97, assembled a collection widely admired for its elegance, intellect, and restraint.
Christie’s dubbed the auction a “master class in good taste,” with all 19 lots sold for a combined total of US$183.9 million — a 100% sell-through rate that underscores both the strength of the market and the Ertegun name.
Mica’s life — from working a chicken farm in Canada to her glamorous marriage to Atlantic Records co-founder Ahmet Ertegun — was as multidimensional as her collection. Known for her sartorial elegance as much as her design eye, she curated rooms with a scholar’s sensitivity, letting art command the space.
Auction Highlights Beyond Magritte
While Empire of Light stole the spotlight, several other works from the Ertegun collection also achieved impressive results:
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David Hockney’s Still Life on a Glass Table (1971) fetched US$19.04 million, meeting expectations.
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Another Magritte, La cour d’amour (1960), sold for US$10.53 million.
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Ed Ruscha’s Marble Shatters Drinking Glass (1968) achieved US$2.71 million, surpassing its high estimate.
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Amedee Ozenfant’s La Source: Femme au broc (1927) set a new auction record for the artist, selling for US$1.008 million.
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A rare Henry Moore lead sculpture from 1931, Reclining Figure, brought in US$1.62 million.
A Moment in Market History
Tuesday’s sale not only places Magritte at the pinnacle of Surrealist auction history, but it also reflects a broader resurgence of interest in mid-century art and the connoisseurship behind significant private collections.
“Magritte challenged how we perceive the world — Mica challenged how we live in it,” said a Christie’s specialist after the sale. “Tonight, their visions aligned.”
As the art world now turns its eyes toward Part II of the Mica Ertegun collection sale, one thing is clear: Magritte’s light is shining brighter than ever.
Auction Summary
Christie’s New York – MICA: The Collection of Mica Ertegun
Date: 19 November 2024
Lots Offered: 19
Lots Sold: 19
Sell-Through Rate: 100%
Total Sales: US$183,915,000
Top Lot: René Magritte’s L’empire des lumières – US$121,160,000
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