Sotheby’s has announced the sale of twelve impressionist and post-impressionist masterpieces from the Blaquier-Arrieta collection, with an estimated total value of 450 million dollars. The auction is scheduled for 18 November in New York. This collection, which has not been publicly displayed for about fifty years, features works by renowned artists such as Paul Cézanne, Vincent van Gogh, Auguste Renoir, Camille Pissarro, Edgar Degas, and Claude Monet. These paintings represent some of the most significant pieces from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a period marked by dramatic shifts in artistic style and technique. One of the standout pieces is Châtaignier en fleurs by Vincent van Gogh, painted around 24 May 1890, just days after his arrival in Auvers-sur-Oise. The painting is estimated to fetch 180 million dollars and is notable for its thick, bright green brushstrokes and depiction of passersby, including three women with umbrellas. This work reflects van Gogh’s fascination with Japanese prints, which influenced his use of color and composition during this period. Another highlight is Arlequin by Paul Cézanne, estimated at 120 million dollars. Created between 1888 and 1890, this painting is one of only four Arlequins Cézanne ever painted, all of which feature his son, Paul, as a model. Inspired by the Mardi Gras processions in Aix-en-Provence, the painting transforms the theatrical character of the commedia dell'arte into a figure that is solemn, melancholic, and elusive. It had not been displayed publicly since it was acquired by the Blaquier family from Wildenstein in 1975. Other significant works in the sale include En Canot – Jeune fille à la barque (1877) by Auguste Renoir, estimated at 25–35 million dollars; a winter scene of Paris by Camille Pissarro, valued at 30–40 million dollars; and a pastel of a horse race by Edgar Degas, estimated at 20–30 million dollars. Additional pieces include Le Jardin des Tuileries by Claude Monet (1876), estimated at 15–20 million dollars; a Tahitian still life by Paul Gauguin, valued at 10–15 million dollars; and a fauvist depiction of the port of Collioure by André Derain, estimated at 8–12 million dollars. Sotheby’s selected London as the venue for the initial unveiling of the collection, as the Blaquier family acquired a significant portion of the works offered. A partial presentation took place in London on 30 September and 1 October, followed by a tour in Taipei, Hong Kong, and Paris from 19 to 23 October. The collection will then be dispersed in New York, where detailed historical records are expected to provide further insight into the provenance of each piece.