NEW YORK, N.Y. - Two boldface names — Rothko and Mellon — are getting prominent attention at an auction Monday of post-war and contemporary art.
Two Mark Rothko paintings owned by Rachel "Bunny" Mellon are among the offerings of Sotheby's evening sale.
Mellon was heir to the Listerine fortune, a noted horticulturist and widow of philanthropist Paul Mellon. She died in March at 103 at her Virginia estate.
"Untitled (Yellow, Orange, Yellow, Light Orange)" could sell for $20 million to $30 million. "Untitled," created 15 years later, has a pre-sale estimate of $15 million to $20 million.
On Tuesday, Sotheby's is offering a third Rothko. "No. 21 (Red, Brown, Black and Orange)" was purchased by art benefactors Pierre and Sao Schlumberger directly from Rothko's estate. It could bring over $50 million.
