Christie's will auction the art collection of late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, which it estimated to be worth more than $1 billion.
The November sale of more than 150 pieces spanning 500 years will be "the largest and most exceptional art auction in history", Christie's said on Thursday.
The works include La Montagne Sainte-Victoire by French painter Paul Cezanne, valued at more than $100 million, the auction house said.
Christie's, with the backing of Allen's estate executors, said all proceeds will go to charitable causes, as per the wishes of Allen, who was an avid art collector, innovator and philanthropist.
Allen, who died in 2018 aged 65, co-founded Microsoft with Bill Gates in 1975. Together, they came up with the PC operating system that made a fortune for the US technology company.
Allen left in 1983 owing to health problems and a deteriorating relationship with Gates, who remained in charge of Microsoft until 2000.
The auction record for a private collection was set this spring by US couple Harry and Linda Macklowe, with $922m fetched in sales conducted by Sotheby's.
Other than the work by Cezanne, the Allen collection features a work titled Small False Start by American painter Jasper Johns, valued at more than $50m, The New York Times reported.
Christie's did not detail what else is in the collection, but a travelling exhibition in 2016 gave a glimpse of the richness of the Allen art trove.
It features works by Monet, Manet, Klimt and others.
This year is shaping up as one of the biggest in the art world.
Besides the Macklowe auction, an Andy Warhol portrait of Marilyn Monroe sold in May for $195m — a record for a piece of 20th century art.
Christie's chief executive Guillaume Cerutti said the Allen auction will be like no other.
"The inspirational figure of Paul Allen, the extraordinary quality and diversity of works, and the dedication of all proceeds to philanthropy, create a unique combination that will make the sale of the Paul G Allen Collection an event of unprecedented magnitude," Cerutti said.
"To Paul, art was both analytical and emotional. He believed that art expressed a unique view of reality — combining the artist's inner state and inner eye — in a way that can inspire us all," said Jody Allen, the executor of the estate.
"His collection reflects the diversity of his interests, with their own mystique and beauty."
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
LA LIGA FIXTURES
Saturday (All UAE kick-off times)
Valencia v Atletico Madrid (midnight)
Mallorca v Alaves (4pm)
Barcelona v Getafe (7pm)
Villarreal v Levante (9.30pm)
Sunday
Granada v Real Volladolid (midnight)
Sevilla v Espanyol (3pm)
Leganes v Real Betis (5pm)
Eibar v Real Sociedad (7pm)
Athletic Bilbao v Osasuna (9.30pm)
Monday
Real Madrid v Celta Vigo (midnight)
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- Grade 9 = above an A*
- Grade 8 = between grades A* and A
- Grade 7 = grade A
- Grade 6 = just above a grade B
- Grade 5 = between grades B and C
- Grade 4 = grade C
- Grade 3 = between grades D and E
- Grade 2 = between grades E and F
- Grade 1 = between grades F and G
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
2018 ICC World Twenty20 Asian Western Regional Qualifier
The top three teams progress to the Asia Qualifier
Final: UAE beat Qatar by nine wickets
Third-place play-off: Kuwait beat Saudi Arabia by five runs
Table
1 UAE 5 5 0 10
2 Qatar 5 4 1 8
3 Saudi 5 3 2 6
4 Kuwait 5 2 3 4
5 Bahrain 5 1 4 2
6 Maldives 5 0 5 0
The Lost Letters of William Woolf
Helen Cullen, Graydon House
Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha
Starring: Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Shantanu Maheshwari, Jimmy Shergill, Saiee Manjrekar
Director: Neeraj Pandey
Rating: 2.5/5
'Morbius'
Director: Daniel Espinosa
Stars: Jared Leto, Matt Smith, Adria Arjona
Rating: 2/5
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Volvo ES90 Specs
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Drishyam 2
Directed by: Jeethu Joseph
Starring: Mohanlal, Meena, Ansiba, Murali Gopy
Rating: 4 stars
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
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What are the regulations?
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Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
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