Our sister auction house in the USA, Freeman's | Hindman is pleased to present further works from the extensive collection What Do You See? The Collection of Sidney Rothberg, Parts III and IV, on 25 &26 March. Their two forthcoming events feature paintings by Édouard Vuillard, Jean Cocteau, Charles Burchfield, Kenny Scharf, René Magritte and many others.
The sales build on the success premiere multi-million dollar auctions of winter 2023, which marked the rediscovery and debut of important fine art pieces by notable artists including Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Robert Delaunay, Wayne Thiebaud, and Lee Bontecou.
"A lifelong Philadelphian, Mr. Rothberg was known for his expert eye and impeccable taste," says Head of Sale Alasdair Nichol. "He regularly attended Freeman's auctions, so it is not only fitting, but also emotional, to see all these gems presented in the city he liked so much."
Sidney Rothberg (1924–2008), widely known as a 'collector’s collector,' gravitated toward bold experimentation. Motivated by a deep passion for art and artists, Rothberg used his collection to provoke, challenge, and question, a distinctive outlook reflected in the sale title. Rothberg was known to ask people for their individual interpretations, and as they stood in front of museum walls, his daughter and granddaughter remember being continually asked, 'What do you see?'.
More than 300 hundred works will be offered, showcasing a variety of styles, periods, mediums, sizes, and price points. “This truly reflects Mr. Rothberg’s humanist approach, as he sought to capture artists’ versatility, understand their experimentations, and compare their trajectory in light of other movements,” Says Raphaël Chatroux, Head of Sale and Head of the Impressionist and Modern Department. “This new series of sales unveils accessible works tailored to both traditional and emerging collectors. It serves as a reminder that despite Mr. Rothberg’s deep art knowledge, his collection is, at its core, a reflection of his approachable, joyful (at times playful), and ever-curious nature.”
