Van Goghing, Going, Gone

Fort Worth's Bass family auctions $120 million collection of masterpiece art

Fort Worth's billionaire Bass family is selling a private collection of 36 art masterworks valued at more than $120 million.

The collection of philanthropists Perry R. and Nancy Lee Bass will be auctioned through Christie's in New York on November 13 and 15. The lot includes works by some of the greatest artists in history, including Vincent Van Gogh, Henri Matisse, Camille Pisarro, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Marc Chagall, and Mark Rothko.

Several of the works hung in the Kimbell Art Museum as part of a major exhibition in 2015; the museum recently returned the Bass-owned works to the family.

"Quietly assembled over 40 years and comprising the best of Impressionist, Modern and Post-War art, the collection is led by five museum-quality masterworks," says Max Carter, Christie's New York-based head of Department of Impressionist and Modern Art in a release.

Leading the collection is Van Gogh’s Laboureur dans un champ, which Carter calls "the finest landscape by the artist to appear at auction in years." The 1889 oil on canvas is significant for several reasons, including that it marked the first time Van Gogh handled his brushes after being removed from his studio by the doctors at an asylum following a devastating psychological episode. Christie's is not releasing an estimated value of the work.

Carter notes that other museum-quality pieces in the collection include:

Kees van Dongen’s Portrait de Madame Malpel, "among the artist’s most celebrated and widely reproduced paintings" (estimate: $7 million-$10 million).
Henri Matisse’s "marvel of Mediterranean light," Les régates de Nice (estimate: $12 million-$18 million).
Joan Miró’s "monumental" Peinture, "one of 18 pivotal Collage Paintings, more than 10 of which hang in major museums" (estimate: $18 million-$25 million).
Mark Rothko’s "luminous, high-keyed" Untitled, from 1969 (estimate: $10 million-$15 million).

The Basses were drawn to Impressionism, Fauvism, Surrealism, and Abstract Expressionism — above all, to strong and expressive color, auction organizers say.

“A collection born with enthusiasm,” said son Sid Bass in a release, “became a lifetime of pleasure and joy.”

In addition to longstanding relationships with Fort Worth museums, Nancy Bass was also involved with the Collector’s Committee of the National Gallery of Art. In Washington, the Basses endowed a fund that has enabled works by PostWar and Contemporary artists to enter the National Gallery’s permanent collection.

Perry Bass died in 2006, and Nancy, in 2013.

The most substantial grouping of works will lead Christie's specially retitled "Impressionist and Modern Art Evening Sale Including The Collection of Nancy Lee and Perry R. Bass" on November 13-14. Highlights will also be included in the "Evening Sale of Post-War and Contemporary Art" on November 15-16. Highlights of the collection have had showings in London and Hong Kong.

Laboureur dans un champ, 1889, Vincent Van Gogh. Estimated value: Upon request only.

Photo courtesy of Christie's

Laboureur dans un champ, 1889, Vincent Van Gogh. Estimated value: Upon request only.

museums

Hot-to-trot party

Former Fort Worth mayor helps corral big bucks at New Hope Equine gala

Photo by Savanna Romano

Betsy Price, Scott Murray

As the sun set over expansive pastures north of Fort Worth, hundreds of city slickers headed up to the country, to Lucky Spur Ranch Retreat in Justin for the 2024 Hope Gala.

Benefiting New Hope Equine Assisted Therapy, the October 25 fundraising party went all in on the horse theme, offering guests "A Night at the Races."

About 220 attendees arrived donning Derby hats and fascinators, bowties, fedoras, and cowboy boots - it was on a ranch after all, and not Churchill Downs. They mingled and posed with New Hope horses, browsed an impressive array of silent auction items, tossed horseshoes at whiskey bottles, and wet their whistles at an open bar alfresco.

When the dinner bell rang, folks moseyed inside and filled up on a buffet of Southwestern favorites, including beef skirt steak, grilled chicken, street corn, and Yukon Gold mashed potatoes. Nothing Bundt Cakes provided enough cake bites to satisfy any sweet tooth.

Master of ceremonies, former NBC5 sports anchor Scott Murray, welcomed guests and acknowledged New Hope leadership, including gala event chair Jason Hodson.

New Hope Equine Hope Gala 2024 Claire Messerle, Betsy Price, Katie MesserlePhoto by Savanna Romano

Moments later came a rousing "Howdy, y'all!" - the familiar greeting from former Fort Worth mayor Betsy Price, who served as the event's honorary chair. She underscored the importance of the organization's mission.

"New Hope isn't just a service, but it opens doors for those who think they don't have the strength, they don't have the courage or the connections to regain their sense of independence," she told the crowd.

Photo by Savanna Romano

Hope Gala honorary chair Betsy Price with emcee Scott Murray.

Since 2012, New Hope has been healing through therapeutic horsemanship for people of all ages with physical, intellectual, or developmental special needs. In 2022, they debuted the Natural Horsemanship program for veterans and first responders grappling with post-traumatic stress.

Funds raised at the gala support the “New Hope” that riders need for a better quality of life.

But the horses benefit, too. The majority of New Hope horses enjoy a second life with the organization; some were even on local kill lists.

"This is Texas, folks! We ride horses in Texas," Price concluded. "And every dollar that you give tonight or that you invest somewhere along the way will be doubled or tripled in the returns to these folks who need the therapy and the ones who work in the barns and help us."

New Hope Equine Hope Gala 2024 Guests bid in the live auction.Photo by Savanna Romano

Auctioneer Mike Trent got bidding going fast and furiously in a live auction for one-of-a-kind trips and experiences, including a vacation to Hilton Head (sold for $2,600), a dinner with several Dallas Cowboys legends (sold for $7,000), and a luxury suite concert experience at Dickies Arena (sold for more than $10,000).

In total, the gala raised $95,000 for New Hope programs.

"The annual cost to care for one horse runs about $6,000, so your generosity will help us care for our horses that provide vital therapy to our over 40 participants," organizers said afterwards.

New Hope Equine Hope Gala 2024 Champagne Yacht Club Band kept the dance floor lively.Photo by Savanna Romano

As some guests wandered outside to enjoy the fresh nighttime air, others got moving and grooving on the dance floor to the sounds of the Champagne Yacht Club Band.

Spotted in the crowd, enjoying the night were New Hope patrons, staff, board members, volunteers, and supporters, including Hamilton Sneed, Jennifer Kiedrowski, Nicole Matwijiw, Jennifer Morris, Pat Fultz, Red Fultz, Devan Peplow, Kathleen Beisly, Emily Rogers-Hicks, Susan Altshuler, Lauren Cobb, Ashley Cox, Mikenley Johnson, Blake Johnson, Kathleen Alexander, Melissa Howard, Claire Messerle, Katie Messerle, Sharla Kershen, Dave Kershen, Jason Hodson, Aaron Sturman, Jennifer Kiedrowski, Neal Bondy, Paul Barstad, Melanie Barstad, Mark Powers, DeAnna Powers, Kim Martin, Darlene Jacobs, Jim Jacobs, Debbie Thayer, and hundreds more.