In the Sotheby’s Library, Benjamin Doller pages through decades of historic catalogues, revisiting the landmark sales that shaped the Icons: Back to Madison exhibition. As he moves through these archival volumes, he reflects on the works that left a lasting mark on the art world, including John Singer Sargent’s Group with Parasols (A Siesta) and other pieces whose reputations were built long before returning to our galleries. The library setting reveals how these objects first entered the cultural conversation and how their stories continue to evolve.
This December, ICONS will be on view, marking Sotheby’s return to Madison Avenue and the opening of our new headquarters at the Breuer Building. Doller’s journey through the archives becomes a reminder that today’s icons are rooted in decades of scholarship, connoisseurship, and the moments preserved in these catalogues—threads that now converge in one exhibition. ICONS is presented by Etihad Airways.
