Magritte’s painting L’empire des lumières to go on sale in New York in November

Christie’s is selling at auction René Magritte’s first painting in the iconic ‘Empire of Lights’ series, the luxury international sales house has announced.

The 1949 painting, estimated at between $25 and $35 million, is a highlight of the 20th Century evening sale in New York on 9 November. Its first private owner was Nelson A Rockefeller, who acquired the oil the year after it was painted.

“The work is a sublime example of the most beautiful surrealist compositions,” writes Christie’s about the 48.5 x 58.7cm painting by Belgium’s most famous artist.

L’empire des lumières is one of Magritte’s most recognisable works; a sublime example of his surrealist compositions. Its title translates as ‘The dominion of light’, referring to the collision of both night and day both in a single moment. This contradiction fills the painting with a sense of mystery that has always intrigued viewers.

Over a period of 15 years, between 1949 and 1964, Magritte produced 17 oil paintings from this series and 10 others in gouache.

While the painting up for sale is the first completed canvas, it’s not the first one started by the artist. The additional 16 oils completed over the following 14 years were all slight variants based on the conception of the simultaneity of day and night. They were painted for interested collectors, in response to this first example’s extreme popularity.

Photo: ‘L’empire des lumières’ by René Magritte ©Christies