Sotheby’s in New York will offer one of the most iconic works by artist Georgia O’Keeffe ever to appear at auction. ‘Jimson Weed/White Flower No. 1’ comes to auction as the centerpiece of its American Art sale in 20 November. One of Three Works by the artist on Offer from the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, Sold to Benefit the Acquisitions Fund.
The artwork is one of the most well-known examples of O’Keeffe’s celebrated flower paintings, and is one of three works by the American artist that are on offer from the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum in Santa Fe, New Mexico The paintings are being sold to benefit its Fund.
O’Keeffe’s famous work is estimated to sell for $10/15 million, a figure reported as well in excess of the artist’s auction record. Also on offer from the the artist’s collection is ‘On the Old Santa Fe Road’, estimated at $2/3 million, and ‘Untitled (Skunk’ Cabbage) which is also to be sold to benefit the Acquisitions Fund, and is estimated at $500/750,000.
‘Jimson Weed/White Flower No. 1’ was owned originally by the artist’s sister Anita O’Keeffe Young, whose estate was sold at Sotheby’s in December 1987. The work was subsequently included in two private collections before being donated to the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum by The Burnett Foundation in 1996.
The painting had a very prestigious location for a time; and hung in the White House for 6 years at the request of First Lady Laura Bush.