For decades, the Blaquier family’s private art collection remained shrouded in mystery, fueling speculation about the masterpieces hidden behind the doors of their Argentinian estate. Among the rumored treasures were works by Paul Cézanne, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Edgar Degas, and notably, a late Vincent van Gogh. Until recently, none of these pieces had been publicly displayed, and details about the collection were scarce.

The veil was lifted yesterday when Sotheby’s presented the highlights of the Blaquier holdings in London ahead of their upcoming auction in New York. The sale features 12 Impressionist and Post-Impressionist masterpieces, with an estimated total value of approximately $450 million (£339 million). Leading the collection is Van Gogh’s "Châtaignier en fleurs roses et blanches," painted in Auvers-sur-Oise just months before the artist’s death in 1890. Sotheby’s has suggested the painting could fetch over $180 million, potentially setting a new record for a Van Gogh work at auction.

The collection was curated primarily by María Elena “Nelly” Arrieta de Blaquier, an arts patron and philanthropist, alongside her husband, Carlos Pedro Blaquier, an industrialist. Nelly was the daughter of Herminio Arrieta, who managed Ledesma, a major sugar and agricultural company in Argentina. Carlos Blaquier took over as chairman of Ledesma in 1970 and held the position until 2013. The couple frequented London in the 1970s, a period when acquiring museum-quality art from prominent dealers was still accessible.

Although the collection symbolizes decades of private acquisition and stewardship, Carlos Blaquier’s tenure ended amid controversy due to allegations linking him to Argentina’s military dictatorship era. This has added a complex dimension to the legacy of the assemblage.

Official Argentinian records show that in 2011, the artworks were transferred into the names of the couple’s five children: María Elena, Carlos, Alejandro, Santiago, and Ignacio. The forthcoming auction offers a rare opportunity for the public and collectors alike to engage directly with a collection that has remained unseen for generations.