For years, the late billionaire A. Alfred Taubman bought and collected some of the most impressive pieces of art on the market. But all the while, Taubman's collection was kept shrouded in mystery.
For the most part, Taubman worked alone to amass his collection, not with a curator, according to Sotheby's. What's more, the works were never put on display or cataloged, but functioned as something for him, his friends and family to enjoy.
Now, just a few months after his death, the collection of A. Alfred Taubman - which includes pieces by such artists as Amedeo Modigliani and Pablo Picasso - is set to be auctioned off at Sotheby's in four separate sales starting November 4, 2015.
The collection, which features more than 500 works, spans a variety of genres, including contemporary art and the work of old masters, and is valued above $500 million.
According to the Associated Press, if the collection does bring in anywhere around that much money, it will become the most valuable private collection ever sold at auction. The record is currently held by Yves Saint Laurent's 2009 estate sale at Christie's, which brought in $477 million.
Sotheby's, which was once owned by Taubman himself, completely transformed their New York headquarters in honor of the sale, covering the exterior of the building with the names of Taubman's favorite artists.
Take a look at a few of the masterpieces set to be auctioned off in the images below.
Getty Images
Getty Images
Getty Images
And learn even more about this impressive collection in the video below.
