Ben Nicholson's March 55 to lead sale of Sting's art collection

Ben Nicholson's March 55 (Amethyst) is to lead the sale of work from musician Sting's art collection at Christie's.

It's valued at £300,000-500,000 ($430,234-717,057) ahead of the February 24 sale in London.

Ben Nicholson March
Ben Nicholson was a British abstract painter

Nicholson was a British abstract painter associated with the St Ives School. He was married to sculptor Barbara Hepworth between 1938 and 1951.

The auction house comments: "Painted in the mid-1950s March 1955 (amethyst) was conceived in one of the artist's most prolific and successful periods�Ǫ

"His work was represented in 40 exhibitions the Council organised between 1947 and 1960, successfully establishing Nicholson as one of the greatest and most innovative 20th Century British artists."

Nicholson's record is $1.6m, set for a work named Mycenae-Axe-Blue in 2013.

A rare proof copy of Henry Matisse's Jazz, a book featuring his celebrated collages, is expected to make £250,000-350,000 ($359,087-502,722).

Matisse (1869-1954) began making his "cut-outs" in 1941, after a diagnosis of stomach cancer confined him to his bed.

Jazz is a collection of these late works and was published in 1947. Each of the pieces is accompanied by notes from the artist expounding his process.

We have this signed postcard from Matisse's close friend Pablo Picasso for sale.

All of the works were displayed at Sting's home at Queen's Anne Gate in London, as Christie's Andy Waters explains.

"Sting and [wife] Trudie Styler's home at Queen Anne's Gate effortlessly combined luxury, rarity and colour ��� a skilful balance that created the ultimate London home," says Waters.

"Each work of art was carefully chosen and the resulting collection is a testament to their informed eye for Art and Design."

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