This is the year that marks the 250th anniversary of Christie’s — an historic year which will be commemorated with a series of exhibitions and events at Christie’s salesrooms across the globe. Celebrations of two and a half centuries will launch in London with Defining British Art, an Evening Sale (30 June) and Loan Exhibition (17 June to 15 July) that both explore the legacy of four centuries of British artists, from Sir Joshua Reynolds to Lucian Freud. An intimate family portrait by Lucian Freud painted in 1992; a pivotal example from 1864 of British Aestheticism at auction for the first time in 100 years by Frederic, Lord Leighton; an exquisite portrait by Sir Joshua Reynolds from 1778, on the market for the first time, and a stunning landscape by John Constable from his series of large-scale canvases of the Stour Valley are among the works to be offered in the sale and exhibition in London. This year also sees Christie’s celebrate 30 Years in Asia and 10 Years in Dubai.
