An Unprecedented Group of Paintings by Albert Bierstadt and Thomas Moran from the Private Collection of an American Original
Sold to Benefit Environmental Conservation | Evening Sale, Live 20 January 2027
“I don't collect art to dwell in the past. I think it can motivate us to want to live in a better world.”
–TED TURNER
NWhen the visionary media mogul Ted Turner was asked about his plans for his Montana ranch, he used to say, “I want my lands to look and feel like those,” gesturing to the paintings on his living room walls – awe-inspiring panoramas of the American West in its untouched state by the preeminent landscape artists Albert Bierstadt (1830-1902) and Thomas Moran (1837-1926). On January 20, 2027, Christie's New York will hold a special live evening auction: Trailblazer: Ted Turner's America, presenting approximately 20 exceptional works by Bierstadt and Moran from the private collection of Ted Turner.
The top lot is Bierstadt's masterpiece Yosemite Valley (estimate: $4,000,000-6,000,000), which maintained pride of place above the mantle at Turner's famed Flying D Ranch in Montana. (Above)
Other top lots by Bierstadt include
Buffalo at Sunset (estimate $300,000-500,000), a gem-like composition of exceptional quality that depicts the American Bison, an animal beloved by Ted Turner.
The offering of Thomas Moran paintings is headlined by the masterwork
The Inner Gorge, Grand Canyon (estimate: $4,000,000-6,000,000), a characteristically dramatic, atmospheric depiction of one of Moran's favorite subjects, which will be joined by other compelling works such as
The Grand Canyon–Hance Trail (estimate $800,000-1,200,000).
Comprised solely of works by these 19th century titans of American painting, the sale features significant locales across North America, places that shaped a national identity intricately tied to the landscape. Such a foundation inspired generations of conservationists to come, from Teddy Roosevelt to Ted Turner.
