Snider's art collection could raise millions for youth hockey foundation
Ed Snider died in the spring, but he is still raising money for his youth hockey organization. Sotheby's will offer for sale at auction in New York 17 works of art - 16 paintings and one print - that had been owned by Snider, who was chairman of the Flyers' parent company, Comcast Spectacor.
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Ed Snider died in the spring, but he is still raising money for his youth hockey organization.
Sotheby's will offer for sale at auction in New York 17 works of art - 16 paintings and one print - that had been owned by Snider, who was chairman of the Flyers' parent company, Comcast Spectacor.
The paintings, some by iconic artists, span nearly four centuries and have an estimated total value of $5.9 million, according to a representative of the auction house.
All proceeds from the sale will benefit the Ed Snider Youth Hockey Foundation, which has more than 3,000 participants, most from inner-city neighborhoods, and focuses on hockey, academics, and life skills. Snider, who died April 11 at age 83, after a long battle with bladder cancer, had said he wanted the foundation to be his legacy.
Snider was an avid collector of fine art. Holdings including notable works by Renoir, Albert Bierstadt, and Jean-Honoré Fragonard will be auctioned throughout the fall and into early 2017.
Among the paintings to be offered by Sotheby's are Bierstadt's Sunset in California, Yosemite, estimated at $1 million to $1.5 million; Fragonard's The Fountain of Love, estimated at $1.5 million to $2.5 million; Alfred Stevens' Ready for the Fancy Dress Ball, estimated at $500,000 to $700,000; and Renoir's Portrait de Claude Terrasse, estimated at $300,000 to $400,000.
The auctions will be open to the public and are scheduled for Oct. 27-29 (prints and multiples); Nov. 15 (impressionist and modern art); Nov. 21 (American art); Nov. 22 (European art); and Jan. 25 and 26 (master paintings) at Sotheby's, 1334 York Ave., New York City. The artworks will be on public view about a week before the sales.
Some of Snider's collection also will be taken to Sotheby's auctions in Los Angeles, Hong Kong, London, and Moscow. More information is available at www.sothebys.com or 212-606-7000.
The Flyers played their home opener Thursday night, starting their 50th anniversary season, their first without Snider, who co-founded the team.
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