HONG KONG.- Christie’s will present Vincent van Gogh’s Les canots amarrés, a cherished piece of The Royal Family of Bourbon-Two Sicilies collection for over 30 years. Estimated at a record-setting HK$230,000,000 – 380,000,000 / US$30,000,000 – 50,000,000, this work will be a highlight of Christie’s 20th/ 21st Century Inaugural Evening Sale at The Henderson on 26 September.

Painted during Van Gogh’s transformative two-year stay in Paris, Les canots amarrés is one of a formative series of landscape paintings that the artist created in the summer of 1887 at Asnières, a fashionable suburb situated on the Seine to the northwest of the capital. A centre for boating enthusiasts, Asnières was a picturesque retreat from the heat and noise of Paris during the summer and a popular destination for weekend day-trippers. It was here that the wealth of stylistic lessons Van Gogh had absorbed during his time in the city came into their own and he forged his distinctive painterly style.

Les canots amarrés forms part of a groundbreaking trio of triptychs that have been described as the “artistic pinnacle” of Van Gogh’s time in Asnières. Using the same horizontal format and similar canvas size for each painting, Van Gogh created a panoramic vision of life on this busy stretch of the Seine. The present work is believed to form part of the so-called “Bord de la Seine à Asnières” triptych, along with Ponts sur la Seine à Asnières (Emil Bührle Collection, Kunsthaus Zurich) and Restaurant de la Sirène, Asnières (The Ashmolean Museum, Oxford). Infused with a sense of bright summer light, Les canots amarrés and these closely related works see Van Gogh moving beyond formal concerns alone — specifically his interest in Impressionist and Pointillist colour and brushwork — to respond directly to nature itself, capturing a scene filled with a novel sense of freshness and luminosity that is entirely his own. This unique approach to the landscape would come to define Van Gogh’s art for the rest of his short but legendary career.

Unseen in public for more than three decades, the presentation of this masterpiece marks an extraordinary historic moment and celebrates not only Les canots amarrés’ artistic significance, but also The Royal Family of Bourbon-Two Sicilies honoured commitment to preserving and sharing their art collection with the public. The public exhibition and auction of this exceptional work, together with the previously announced Nymphéas by Claude Monet, will captivate collectors and art enthusiasts, further cementing Christie’s position as a global leader in bringing exceptional Western masterpieces to collectors in Asia.

Adrien Meyer, Global Head of Private Sales and Co-Chairman of Impressionist & Modern Art at Christie's, commented: “This inviting Van Gogh provides a fascinating window into a pivotal chapter in Van Gogh's artistic journey, launching a free and light Impressionist palette. Evident in this painting is his embrace of a vibrant colour scheme revealing an instinctive approach using expressive strokes, which would come to define his mythical style.”

Max Carter, Vice Chairman, 20th/21st Century Art at Christie’s Americas, continued: “In the final years of his brief life, Vincent achieved perfect artistic freedom from narrowly prescribed colours, techniques, and subjects. Here, in 1887, he revels in these dearly won freedoms as he loosens his brush, brightens his palette, and celebrates the subtle harmonies of an exquisite summer day.”

Jacky Ho, Deputy Head of Department, 20th/21st Century Art at Christie’s Asia Pacific, added: “A diverse range of artistic traditions inspired Van Gogh’s creative journey. Van Gogh’s approach was influenced by Impressionism and Pointillism, and his perspective was further widened by Ukiyo-e prints from Asia. In turn, his artistic language opened so many doors for the artists to come in the following century. Les canots amarrés is renowned for its striking colours and intricate brushwork, characteristic of Van Gogh’s distinct style, making it a standout piece in any collection. Presenting this pivotal Paris period masterpiece in Asia completes a full circle of historic art exchanges. This is a perfect gift from a titan of modern art to headline the landmark inaugural sale at Christie’s new headquarters.”