Icons

The celebration of the stories behind 100 of the most iconic objects to pass through the doors of one of the world’s most legendary auction houses

Icons traces the extraordinary heritage of international auction house Sotheby’s through one hundred of the most significant works sold under its banner. With works spanning across history and mediums – from a 67-million-year-old Tyrannosaurus rex to Maurizio Cattelan’s infamous banana – this engaging book offers readers an exclusive glimpse into the journey of each artwork through its arrival in Sotheby’s salesroom. The presentation of these exceptional objects, from some of the most prestigious collections entrusted to Sotheby’s, gives behind-the-scenes access to pivotal moments in art market history.

From national icons such as the Constitution and auction sensations such as Banksy’s unforgettable, partially shredded Girl Without Balloon, each prized work is shown as a large-format image accompanied by an informative text written by Sotheby’s specialists. Select entries also include contextual images – such as the work shown in situ or on the auction floor – as well as immersive quotes from curators, critics in the field, and the Sotheby’s specialists who brought them to sale. From rediscoveries, to record-breaking lots and ‘white glove’ auctions, every object sold through Sotheby’s has a riveting story to tell. Published to coincide with Sotheby’s marquee move back to the Breuer – a landmark of the New York art scene, having previously belonged to the Whitney Museum of American Art, and later the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Frick Collection – Icons highlights the legacy of the auction house through the masterpieces it has had the privilege of stewarding.

Featured artists and creators include Jean-Michel Basquiat, Louise Bourgeois, Constantin Brâncusi, Leonora Carrington, Paul Cézanne, Edgar Degas, Salvador Dalí, Helen Frankenthaler, Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, Vincent van Gogh, Edward Hopper, Frida Kahlo, Gustav Klimt, Jacob Lawrence, Édouard Manet, Andrea Mantegna, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Joan Mitchell, Piet Mondrian, Georgia O’Keeffe, Patek Philippe, Pablo Picasso, Jackson Pollock, Raphael, Norman Rockwell, Mark Rothko, Georges Seurat, and Louis Comfort Tiffany, among others.

Author Biography

Established in 1744, Sotheby’s is the world’s premier destination for art and luxury. Sotheby’s promotes access to and ownership of exceptional art and luxury objects through auctions and buy-now channels including private sales, e-commerce, and retail.