Impressionist & Modern Art

Freeman’s has always had a long-standing tradition of presenting exceptional works of Impressionist and Modern Art, beginning with the landmark 1967 sale of the Collection of Misses Nelle and Mary Mullen in Philadelphia. The Mullens were among the original trustees of the Barnes Foundation, and their collection included quintessential examples of modern art by Henri Matisse, Giorgio de Chirico, and Chaïm Soutine. Since then, the house has showcased numerous prestigious collections featuring key works from this period. Notable art auction highlights include The Collection of Sidney Rothberg (2024), which achieved $4.9M,led by Renoir’s Portrait de Pierre Goujon en Costume Marin, which sold for $330,200. The Estate of Dorrance "Dodo" H. Hamilton (2018), which realized $6.1M, was headlined by Cézanne’s La Vie des Champ, a $1.45M masterpiece now housed at the National Gallery of Ireland. Finally, the Collection of Laura Pels (2024), which featured the largest group of modern art works by Françoise Gilot ever offered at auction. Following their 2024 merger, Freeman’s established a dedicated Impressionist and Modern Art department. Held biannually, these auctions bridge the gap between early pioneers of Impressionist art such as Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Camille Pissarro, Mary Cassatt, and Modern Masters like Maurice Utrillo, Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí, and Jean Cocteau. Such sales also enable Freeman’s to spotlight Post-Impressionist artists and emerging or rediscovered talents whose market visibility is rapidly increasing, including Jean and Valentine Hugo, Blanche Hoschedé-Monet, Yvonne Canu, and Diego Rivera. Since the department’s inaugural sale in October 2024, Freeman’s has exceeded expectations, achieving standout results for works by Marc Chagall, Henri Martin, Suzanne Valadon, James Ensor, and Bernard Buffet among many others. We invite you to explore the notable results of recent Freeman’s fine art auctions. Then contact us to arrange a complimentary valuation of your artwork by one of our art appraisers.