Phillips to Auction John. L. Loeb Jr.’s Collection of Danish Art

Phillips will auction some 150 artworks of late 19th-century and early 20th-century Danish art from the collection of John. L. Loeb Jr., who served as the US Ambassador to Denmark from 1981 to 1983.

The works will be auctioned across multiple sales, including in March in London and in May in New York. The house expects the collection to fetch a cumulative sum of more than $12 million. A selection of the works to be auctioned will first go on view the Erichsen Mansion in Copenhagen, before touring salesrooms in Gstaad, St. Moritz, Hong Kong, Tokyo, and Los Angeles; London and New York will host full pre-sale displays of the works.

Per a release, Loeb’s collection of Danish art is “now considered to be the largest in the world outside of Danish museums,” particularly known for its depth into the oeuvre of Vilhelm Hammershøi, who is known for his enigmatic interiors and will be represented by 10 works in the sales. Among the other artists included are Bertha Wegmann, P. S. Krøyer, Anna Anche, J. Th. Lundbye, Carl Holsøe, Christian Mourier-Petersen, L.A. Ring, and Michael Anche.

“Ambassador Loeb’s discerning eye and deep appreciation for Danish culture have resulted in a collection of extraordinary depth and sensitivity,” Jeremiah Evarts, the house’s deputy chairman for the Americas, said in a statement. “His commitment to championing Danish art, particularly the quietly radical work of Vilhelm Hammershøi, has helped bring renewed global attention to a school of painting that continues to resonate with contemporary audiences.”

The sale comes as these artists receive wider international attention. The Buffalo AKG Art Museum in New York has an exhibition focused on Scandinavian art, titled “Northern Lights,” which closes today. The Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza in Madrid will open a retrospective for Hammershøi next month and a multi-venue exhibition for the artist is planned to tour the US in 2027. The Dulwich Picture Gallery in London is also currently host to a survey of Anche.

“Within this context, the appearance of the Loeb Collection on the market will make for a rare opportunity to acquire examples by these masters of light,” Evarts added in his statement. “Phillips is honored to act as a steward for this collection and contribute to the evolving dialogue around Danish art and its enduring relevance.”

At least three of the Hammershøi works that will be auctioned—Courtyard Interior at Strandgade 30 (ca. 1905), Interior with Windsor Chair (1913), and Interior of Woman Placing Branches in Vase on Table (1900)—were exhibited as part of solo show for the Danish artist that inaugurated mega-gallery Hauser & Wirth’s Basel space in June 2024. They carry pre-sale estimates of $3 million–$5 million, $2.5 million–$3.5 million, and £1.5 million–£2 million, respectively. Courtyard Interior and Interior with Windsor Chair will both be offered in a May evening sale in New York.

Courtyard Interior at Strandgade 30 was also featured in an exhibition, comprising mostly of works that were not for sale, by Phillips, titled “Stillness: Hammershøi and American Minimalism,” which was on view in May 2024.

“When I first arrived in Denmark, I spent quiet evenings walking through the halls of Rydhave, reflecting on the empty walls and thinking about the art I had grown up with,” Loeb, who is a member of the Lehman and Loeb financial families, said in a statement. “Though I initially planned to fill the space with American art, I was soon drawn to the quietude and beauty of 19th-century Danish paintings. It was art I felt comfortable with, and comforted by.”

See a selection of works from “The Collection of Ambassador John. L. Loeb Jr.” below.