Two Fine Art Paintings from the Marylou Whitney Collection Going Up for Auction

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Later this month, Sotheby’s 19th Century European Art auction will offer two exceptional Sir Alfred J. Munnings paintings from the collection of the late Marylou Whitney.

The live auction, which begins at 10 a.m. on Jan. 31, includes Sir Alfred J. Munnings’ My Horse Anarchist – estimate $200,000 / $300,000, according to Sotheby’s. and Mahmoud Being Saddled for the Derby, 1936 – estimated in excess of $3.5 million.

The latter painting was commissioned by Sir Sultan Mahomed Shah, Aga Khan III, a horse breeder, to commemorate his record Derby Victory with the horse Mahmoud. Aga Khan was a shrewd breeder, and his family had been associated with horses since sixth century Arabia.

With the advent of World War II, Aga Khan accepted a bid from an American consortium, led by Cornelius Vanderbilt “Sonny” Whitney, for the purchase of Mahmoud in 1940. Mahmoud became the star stallion at the Whitneys’ farm in Kentucky and a horse who sired one of the most important lines in modern American racing.  For more information about Sotheby’s 19th Century European Art Auction, go to: https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2020/19th-century-european-art?locale=en.