A collection of works by artists, such as J M W Turner and Winston Churchill, owned by poet TS Eliot’s widow has sold for 8 million pounds at an auction here.
Valerie Eliot, who died last November aged 86, bought the artworks with royalties from the hit musical ‘Cats’ based on ’Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats’ by her husband.
The artwork fetched a total of 8,013,700 pounds at the Christie’s auction house, which included the buyer’s premium as well.
The extraordinary collection amassed over the decades following the success of the West End hit musical Cats, takes us on a journey from Nicholas Hilliard and the mastery of the portrait miniature through to Lucian Freud via Constable, Turner, Hepworth, and Churchill, Christie’s said.
“It is a fitting tribute and a mark of her magnanimity that the proceeds from the sale of her collection this November go towards ensuring the important work of this charitable organisation continues,” the auction house said.
Born in 1926, Eliot was an esteemed editor, astute collector, dedicated philanthropist and supporter of literature and the arts, the auction house said.
Following the death of her husband TS Eliot in 1965, she was entrusted with the role of protecting his legacy.
Her life’s work was devoted to preserving his memory, editing and publishing his correspondence and promoting contemporary poetry.
In addition to collecting art, Valerie established The Old Possum’s Practical Trust, a charitable organisation supporting literary, artistic, musical and theatrical projects and institutions.