Belgium’s Vanthournout Art Collection Heads to Christie’s for $50M Auction

Christie’s Brussels is set to auction one of Belgium’s largest private art collections, belonging to the late Roger and Josette Vanthournout, valued at nearly 50 million euros. The couple, art patrons from Izegem, amassed works by Picasso, Magritte, Max Ernst, Henry Moore, Gustave De Smet, and Panamarenko through fairs and direct purchases.

Highlights include Magritte’s La plaine de l’air (1940), estimated at 4–6.3 million euros, Picasso’s Nu debout et femmes assises (1939), and Henry Moore’s Goslar Warrior (1973).

Following a 2005 Sotheby’s auction of 27 pieces after Roger’s death, this sale represents the largest tranche after Josette passed away last year. The collection will be displayed at Christie’s Brussels before traveling to Hong Kong, New York, and Paris, with the auctions scheduled in London this March.