This article contains unreferenced categories (Category:People from the Upper East Side and Category:Philanthropists from New York (state)). (May 2026) |
John Louis Marion (November 27, 1933 – May 6, 2026) was an American auctioneer and philanthropist.[citation needed] He served as the chairman of Sotheby's (NYSE: BID) from 1975 to 1994.
John L. Marion | |
|---|---|
| Born | John Louis Marion November 27, 1933 Gardiner, New York, U.S. |
| Died | May 6, 2026 (aged 92) San Diego, California, U.S. |
| Education | Fordham University Columbia University |
| Occupations | Auctioneer, philanthropist[citation needed] |
| Employer | Sotheby's |
| Spouse | Anne Windfohr Marion |
Early life and education
editMarion was born in Gardiner, New York, on November 27, 1933, and grew up in Mount Vernon, New York.[1][2] His father, Louis J. Marion, was the President of Parke-Bernet Galleries.[1] He graduated from Fordham University in New York City in 1956.[1][3] He then served as a lieutenant in the United States Navy.[1] He went on to study the decorative arts at Columbia University.[1]
Career
editMarion started his career as an auctioneer at Sotheby's in 1960.[3] He became president in 1972 and chairman in 1975.[1][4] During the course of his career, he oversaw the sale of Irises by Vincent van Gogh for US$53.9 million, Yo Picasso and Au Lapin Agile (both by Pablo Picasso) for US$47.9 million and US$40.7 million respectively, Interchange by Willem de Kooning for US$20.7 million, and False Start and Two Flags (both by Jasper Johns) for US$17 million and US$12.1 million respectively.[5][6]
In 1989, with Christopher Andersen, he co-wrote The Best of Everything: The Insider's Guide to Collecting--For Every Taste and Every Budget, published by Simon & Schuster.[7] The book suggests anyone can attend auctions and become a collector, even on a limited budget.[5][6]
He retired in 1994[3] but continued to serve on Sotheby's Advisory Board.[8][9]
Personal life and death
editMarion was the fourth husband of philanthropist Anne Windfohr Marion, who died in February 2020.[1][4] They were married at the Church of the Heavenly Rest on the Upper East Side in Manhattan, New York City, in 1988.[1] Marion died in San Diego on May 6, 2026, at the age of 92.[2]
Honors
editReferences
edit- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Anne Windfohr Wed to John L. Marion, The New York Times, March 27, 1988
- 1 2 Green, Penelope (May 23, 2026). "John Marion, the 'God of Auctioneers in America,' Dies at 92". The New York Times. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 "John L. Marion Chair in Art History, Painting, and Sculpture at Fordham University" (PDF). fordham.edu. Retrieved February 11, 2015.[permanent dead link]
- 1 2 Katya Kazakina, Rothko ‘No. 1’ Sells for $75 Million at Sotheby’s in NYC Archived 2013-06-02 at the Wayback Machine, Bloomberg BusinessWeek, November 13, 2012
- 1 2 Cheryl Lavin, As chairman of Sotheby's auction house, John L. Marion has..., The Chicago Tribune, January 7, 1990.
- 1 2 Suzanne Muchnic, Sotheby's Marion: Any Number Can Play the Auction Game, The Los Angeles Times, November 23, 1989.
- ↑ Marion, J.L.; Andersen, C.P. (1989). The best of everything: the insider's guide to collecting--for every taste and every budget. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 9780671667832. Retrieved February 11, 2015.
- ↑ "John L. Marion: Executive Profile & Biography - Businessweek". investing.businessweek.com. Retrieved February 11, 2015.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ↑ "Sotheby's - Board of Directors". sothebys.com. Archived from the original on January 12, 2015. Retrieved February 11, 2015.
- ↑ Vergel, Gina (April 7, 2009). "Art Professor Installed as Inaugural Marion Chair". Fordham Now. Retrieved May 23, 2026.