an art collection featuring 150⁢ works owned by Belgian entrepreneurs Joris Onsa and Suzanne Govaerts was recently auctioned at Christie’s in Paris.the⁢ collection’s​ value was previously estimated to be between⁤ 7 million and 12 million euros. The sale concluded at 10​ million‍ euros, landing within the anticipated range.

A significant portion of the collection comprised art by Rik Wouters.the couple possessed 13 paintings and works on paper by the Fauvist artist.‌ Reflections, a portrait of ‍Wouters’ wife Nel from 1912, was a highly anticipated oil painting. Estimated between 500,000 and 700,000 euros, it surpassed expectations, eventually selling ​for ⁢2.4 million euros, ​setting a new record for‍ the artist. In total, the Wouters pieces garnered 4.2​ million euros.

The Flemish Community ​previously acquired Red Curtains by Wouters from the UNEA-Govaerts collection for 1.8 million euros. This ‌piece has been on the master list since 2007.

Collection Origins

Karel Govaerts initiated the art collection. In 1925,he established ⁢the​ Fort company,initially specializing in dairy⁢ products but later achieving renown for its coffee brand. His daughter, Suzanne, and her​ husband, Joris Onzea, assumed control of the company in 1962. Together, they founded the interior design chain Casa, which they ⁣sold to Blokker in‍ 1988. Antiquarian⁢ and interior architect‍ Axel Vervoordt ⁢advised them on organizing their villa in Itegem.

Reflecting ⁣Vervoordt’s style,​ the collection encompassed diverse artistic periods, spanning approximately‍ 3,000 years of art history. It ​included ancient Egyptian art, African statues, Eastern artifacts, and contemporary art by Lucio Fontana and Yves Klein. Farmenbruiloft by Pieter Brueghel⁣ the Younger,an old master estimated between⁢ 1.5 million and 2.5 million euros, did not ⁤sell. A painting by Adriaen⁣ Isenbrant was‍ also unsold. Of Lens by ⁤Abel Grimmer, however, fetched 504,000 euros.

Besides the rik ‌Wouters painting,two other distinct artworks​ were top sellers at the ⁤auction. Spatial concept, Expected, a ⁤piece characteristic of Lucio Fontana’s work from ​the 1960s, sold for ‌1.06 million euros. An Egyptian granite head of Sekhmet​ realized 819,000 euros. A Roman marble torso of Venus from the first century garnered 315,000 euros.