NEW YORK, NY.- Sotheby’s announced the sale of The Weldon Collection, a remarkable assemblage of Dutch and Flemish paintings collected by the late Henry and June “Jimmy” Weldon over a period of several decades.

Consummate and celebrated collectors across numerous categories, including Asian Art and Staffordshire pottery, the Weldons took great care in every acquisition and numerous American institutions benefitted greatly from generous gifts over the years. Their collecting journey began in the 1960s with an initial focus on 17th century Dutch and Flemish pictures, seeking out works by Balthasar Van der Ast, Rachel Ruysch and Ambrosius Bosschaert.

Over the years, as their taste broadened, they added remarkable gems including an early still life by the German artist Ludger Tom Ring the Elder, a pair of paintings by Jean-Antoine Watteau and an extraordinary collaborative work by Peter Paul Rubens and Jan Brueghel the Younger. Yet, their love of the Dutch Golden Age remained a constant with masterworks by Hendrick Avercamp and Aelbert Cuyp entering the collection within the last decade.

Together, the collection of more than 70 works is estimated in the region of $30 million. Highlights will be shown in New York in January 2015 and a selection of works will travel to London and Amsterdam before the 22 April 2015 auction.