Christie’s has been consign to sell works of Impressionism from the Bill and Dorothy Fisher Collection during its marquee auctions in November.
The consignment from the Fisher Governor Foundation includes works by Paul Signac, Camille Pissarro, Eugène Boudin, Pierre Bonnard, Alfred Sisley, and Henri Matisse, and has a total estimate “in excess of $10 million.” Proceeds from the sale will support “local cultural enrichment in the community” of Marshalltown, Iowa, including the Marshalltown Arts & Civic Center.
“Bill and Dorothy Fisher and the Fisher family have demonstrated their love for and commitment to their hometown of Marshalltown for decades, through their generosity and as exemplars of the importance of giving back to one’s community,” Fisher Governor Foundation board member David Tank said in a press statement. “We are excited to work alongside Christie’s team to recognize and honor this legacy and in a way that will enable us to perpetuate their good work and vision for Marshalltown for many years to come.”
The top lot is Paul Signac’s L’Odet à Quimper (1922-1923), which carries an estimate of $6 million to $9 million. The artist was an “enthusiastic amateur sailor” and the Pointillist work was painted in the ancient French medieval town of Quimper in Brittany. Notably, L’Odet à Quimper has been in the collection of Bill and Dorothy Fisher for more than sixty years.
“The canvas is a triumphant demonstration, impressively scaled with rich color and detail, of the artist’s unmatched coloristic abilities, employing rich hues of emerald and sapphire interspersed with warm jewel-tones capturing the magnificent light,” Imogen Kerr, Christie’s co-head of the 20th century evening sale, said in a press statement. “We are truly thrilled to present it to the market this fall, particularly for such a benevolent and worthy cause.”
Works from the collection will be sold as part of Christie’s 20th Century Evening Sale on November 17 as well as its day sales for Impressionist and Modern Art Works on Paper on November 18. A press release from the auction house noted “the majority of the works held in the Fisher collection” were for more than five decades.
Bill Fisher served as president of the Fisher Governor Company, which designed, manufactured, and supplied control valves and regulators to multiple industries. Bill and his wife Dorothy supported the arts in both his hometown of Marshalltown and across the US. The couple’s patronage included the creation and curation of “an impressive collection of Impressionistic and Post-Impressionistic art” that became known as the Fisher Art Collection, now featured in a dedicated museum at the Marshalltown Arts & Civic Center.
