NEW YORK, NY.- The Collection of Peggy and David Rockefeller: Art of the Americas Evening Sale totaled $106,883,500 with seven artist records established. To date, the Collection of Peggy and David Rockefeller has totaled $765,384,844, and already has established the highest total achieved for any private collection offered at auction during the first night of the sale week. Thus far, 14 artist records have been set within the collection along with additional decorative arts records. The top lot of the sale was Willem de Kooning’s Untitled XIX, which sold for $14.2 million and formerly resided in David Rockefeller’s Chase Manhattan office.

Will Haydock, Head of American Art, remarks: “The American art from the collection of Peggy and David Rockefeller represents one of the best single owner collections to come to market and this evening collectors responded accordingly. Peggy and David appreciated and cherished this material in the same manner as their Impressionist and Modern masterworks and that allowed us to expose it on a broader, international stage. Both established and new collectors gravitated to the auction and it enabled us to achieve this monumental result. Tonight’s sale set a record total for any American Art auction, with strong results achieved across all time periods of the category. There was a particular interest in works commissioned by Abby Aldrich Rockefeller one the first true pioneers and patrons of Modernism in the United States, as seen with the records set for Rivera, Sheeler and Hirsch.”

Virgilio Garza, Head of Latin American Art, comments: “Completed during a milestone moment in the artist’s career, The Rivals combines Rivera’s love of regional tradition with a uniquely modern sensibility. Works of this quality by the artist rarely come to market and the strong price achieved this evening demonstrates a renewed global interest. Moreover, its provenance is impeccable. This work marked the beginning of Rivera’s personal relationship with the Rockefeller family and helped to solidify his reputation as the foremost Mexican muralist and modernist in the United States. Painted for Abby Rockefeller, ahead of Rivera’s first solo exhibition at MoMA in 1931, it was later given to David and Peggy as a wedding gift. Abby was a proponent of Rivera and helped to define his reputation as an artist in the United States. It was through his mother’s influence that David Rockefeller attributed his interest in Latin America and Latin American art. We have been honored to exhibit this landmark painting in Rockefeller Center, allowing for it to come full circle in its journey. The exceptional price achieved for this work solidifies Christie’s market leadership for Latin American Art and demonstrates the incredible growth and global interest in category, underscoring Christie’s ongoing commitment to the field.”

Sales of The Collection of Peggy and David Rockefeller continues with on the Fine Art Day Sale, English & European Furniture, Ceramics and Decorations Part II and Travel and Americana on 10 May. The Online only sale continues until Friday 11 May.