Nashville art scene is expanding along with the rest of the city
Local area art leaders ranging from the opera, ballet, symphony, TPAC and Frist Art Museum talk with The Tennessean about how the they have been positively affected by the expansion on Nashville
Nicole Hester, Nashville Tennessean
- A private art collection from a prominent Nashville family is heading to auction at Christie’s in New York.
- The collection features masterworks spanning from the 16th to the 20th century, including sculptures, paintings and drawings.
- Key pieces include a 17th-century bronze sculpture estimated at $1-1.5 million and works by artists like J.M.W. Turner.
- The auction will include both online and live sales, with a public viewing available in New York City.
A private art collection built by one of Tennessee’s most well-known philanthropic families is headed to a major auction in New York City, and it’s expected to fetch millions.
Up until now, much of the exclusive artwork Nashville natives H. Rodes Sr. and Patricia Hart collected over 30 years had remained off the market and out of the public eye. Starting in January, masterworks of sculpture, drawings, paintings and porcelain will be offered through Christie’s art and luxury auction house.
“This is a marvelous moment to see what a really sophisticated and interesting American family was buying,” said Will Russell, specialist in European sculpture. “It’s really a world-class collection. I mean you’ve got the best names in art history.”
The collection’s highlights include a rare 17th-century bronze sculpture of Nessus and Deianeira with an estimated price tag of $1 million to $1.5 million.
Russell said the Renaissance and Baroque bronzes are especially significant and include works by leading European sculptors who served royalty like King Henry IV of France and the Medici. Another standout aspect of the collection is its range, Russell said, spanning multiple styles and periods from the 16th to the 20th century, which is rare for many art collections.
The collection features Old Masters and 19th-century drawings and watercolors, including Claude Lorrain’s 1662 “Coastal Scene with Antique Temple,” which is estimated to sell for $100,000 to $150,000; a landscape watercolor by British artist J.M.W. Turner is estimated at $400,000 to $600,000; and an iconic horse racing painting by Sir Alfred Munnings is estimated at $250,000 to $350,000.
“Any museum anywhere in the world would be thrilled to have a group of objects like this. The best museums in the world have comparable objects, whether it’s the Louvre or the Met, or museums in Florence. So having it on a horse farm outside of Nashville makes it even more special,” Russell said.
Russell said what makes it even more remarkable is the family collected these pieces purely for their own enjoyment.
“This is a family that was just doing it for themselves, buying wonderful things and appreciating them privately,” Russell said.
The online sale will begin Jan. 22 and run through Feb. 6. The live sale is slated for Feb. 5. The New York City auction is expected to attract collectors and buyers from all over the world.
“We are open, and the (art) will be up about five days before the sale. They’ll be visible, and anyone can come in. … You don’t have to wear a special outfit. You don’t have to make an appointment. The doors are open,” said Edward Lewine, vice president of communications at Christie’s. “We love having everybody come in and take a look. So anyone in America, but certainly from Nashville who’s interested in seeing a great Nashville collection of art.”
