An artwork from the collection of late acting legend Sean Connery fared very well under the gavel this spring. The painting, a Picasso dating to 1969 called Buste d’homme dans un cadre sold for well over $20 million at a Christie’s auction in Hong Kong last month.
The painting, an abstract of a musketeer, was one of several of Picasso’s works owned by Connery during his lifetime. The painting was one of several of Picasso’s later paintings to use the musketeer as a theme for exploration. Estimates prior to the bidding forecasted a sale of $19 million for the work.
The work was auctioned by the actor’s estate. Connery’s most famous role was the first incarnation of Fleming’s high-profile spy James Bond, but took home an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his turn as tough-as-nails Chicago beat cop Malone in de Palma’s 1988 film The Untouchables.
Connery died at his estate in the Bahamas in 2020. He was 90 years old.
A portion of the proceeds will support charitable endeavors in his native Scotland and in the Bahamas.