Sotheby’s to Showcase Masterpieces from Raden Saleh and Walter Spies in Singapore Auction
January 15, 2026 | Singapore — Sotheby’s is set to illuminate Singapore’s art scene with its upcoming Modern and Contemporary Art Auction on January 25, 2026, featuring a rare collection of works by Southeast Asian and international luminaries. The event will spotlight over a century-old masterpiece by Indonesian Romantic painter Raden Saleh, a winter scene by German artist Walter Spies, and a Singapore debut by British art icon David Hockney, among others.
Raden Saleh’s The Eruption of Mount Merapi, By Day (1865), a dramatic portrayal of the volcano’s daytime fury, will make its public debut at The Singapore Edition from January 21. The painting, which has remained in a private European collection for over 100 years, is anticipated to fetch between $700,000 and $1.3 million. High hopes are pinned on this piece, following the success of two of Saleh’s landscapes that sold for up to $2 million and $648,000 in Sotheby’s 2025 Singapore auction.
Another standout is Walter Spies’ Die Schlittschuhlaufer (The Ice Skaters) (1922), a vibrant depiction of a moonlit winter scene. This rare work from before Spies’ iconic move to Java in 1923 is estimated at $980,000 to $1.8 million. The painting captures the exuberance of ice-skating under a frosty sky, contrasting with the tropical landscapes he later became known for.
British artist David Hockney makes his Singapore auction debut with three iPad drawings from his celebrated 2011 The Arrival of Spring in Woldgate, East Yorkshire series, known for their digital innovation and vibrant hues. Meanwhile, Marc Chagall’s Couple Et Mimosas (1967), sourced directly from the artist’s estate, has a revised lower estimate of $420,000, following a $1.35 million estimate for a previous work that failed to sell in 2025.
The auction also highlights Southeast Asian artistry, including works by Le Pho, Mai Trung Thu, Cheong Soo Pieng, and Jane Lee, as well as masterpieces from Japanese artist Takashi Murakami, South Korean minimalist Lee Ufan, and Chinese-French painter Zao Wou-Ki.
“This auction reflects the dynamic interplay of historical and contemporary art, uniting global icons with regional treasures,” said a Sotheby’s spokesperson.
Event Details
Exhibition: January 21–24, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; January 25, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Auction: January 25, 5 p.m.
Location: Ballroom, Level LG, The Singapore Edition, 38 Cuscaden Road
Admission: Free
For those unable to attend, live bidding will be available online via Sotheby’s platform.
Context in Singapore’s Art Scene
The auction coincides with a broader surge in regional art activity. At the Singapore Art Museum (SAM), Indonesian duo Elia Nurvista and Bagus Pandega are exploring ecological and industrial themes through materials like palm fronds and nickel in their exhibition Nafasan Bumi – An Endless Harvest (Jan 16–May 31), echoing the auction’s preoccupation with art’s intersection with nature and industry.
Sotheby’s January 2026 auction promises to be a pivotal event for art collectors and enthusiasts, celebrating both historical legacies and modern creativity on Singapore’s global stage.
For more information, visit str.sg/FkQs.
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