| Birth name | John Louis Marion |
|---|---|
| Birth date | November 27, 1933 |
| Birth place | Gardiner, New York, U.S. |
| Death date | May 6, 2026 (aged 92) |
| Death place | San Diego, California, U.S. |
| Education | Fordham University Columbia University |
| Occupation | Auctioneer, [citation needed] |
| Employer | Sotheby's |
| Spouse | Anne Windfohr Marion |
John Louis Marion (November 27, 1933 – May 6, 2026) was an American auctioneer [citation needed] He served as the chairman of Sotheby's () from 1975 to 1994.
Early life and education
Marion 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
Marion 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
Marion 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
The John L. Marion Chair in Art History, Painting, and Sculpture at Fordham University is named in his honor. It was endowed by the Burnett Foundation, where he served on the Board of Trustees.[3][10]
References
- ^ Anne Windfohr Wed to John L. Marion, The New York Times, March 27, 1988
- ^ Green, Penelope (May 23, 2026). "John Marion, the 'God of Auctioneers in America,' Dies at 92". The New York Times. Retrieved May 23, 2026.
- ^ "John L. Marion Chair in Art History, Painting, and Sculpture at Fordham University". fordham.edu. Retrieved 2015-02-11.[dead link]
- ^ 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
- ^ Cheryl Lavin, As chairman of Sotheby's auction house, John L. Marion has..., The Chicago Tribune, January 7, 1990.
- ^ 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 2015-02-11.
- ^ "John L. Marion: Executive Profile & Biography - Businessweek". investing.businessweek.com. Archived from the original on December 29, 2014. Retrieved 2015-02-11.
- ^ "Sotheby's - Board of Directors". sothebys.com. Archived from the original on 2015-01-12. Retrieved 2015-02-11.
- ^ Vergel, Gina (April 7, 2009). "Art Professor Installed as Inaugural Marion Chair". Fordham Now. Retrieved May 23, 2026.