Sotheby's Impressionist & Modern Art Evening sale on May 5 realised $368.3 million, exceeding the pre-sale high estimate of $351 million to bring the second-highest total in company history in the category. A third of offered lots had not been seen in public for more than 50 years.

Vincent van Gogh’s vibrant L’Allée des Alyscamps led the night, fetching $66.3 million (estimate in excess of $40 million). Five bidders competed for this exuberant work, which sold to an Asian private collector.

The sale also featured works from important American collections: all eleven pieces from the estate of Chicago businessman and philanthropist Jerome H. Stone found buyers, amounting to a total of $57.8 million. Top offerings included works by Marc Chagall, whom Stone visited several times during his life, and Alberto Giacometti’s Femme de Venise VI. This iconic sculpture, the tallest from Giacometti’s standing female nude series, was held in the Stone collection for more than 20 years and sold for $16.2 million.

From the Goldwyn Collection, assembled by Hollywood legends Samuel Goldwyn, Sr. and Sam Goldwyn, Jr., Pablo Picasso’s Femme au chignon dans un fauteuil stood out, selling for $29.9 million. This portrait of Picasso's love, Françoise Gilot, had remained in the Goldwyn Collection since 1956 and set a record for a portrait of Gilot by Picasso. 

Other highlights from the Evening sale included five works by Monet, totaling $115.4 million. His 1905 Nymphéas was sold to an American private collector, achieving a price of $54 million, the second highest of the night. Three of the five top lots of the evening’s offerings were purchased by Asian private collectors, including Monet’s scenic marvel, Bassin aux nymphéas, les rosiers, which its previous owner held since 1991.