Frank Sinatra (1915-1998) is one of the world's most legendary entertainers, beloved for his dapper style, hit songs and Hollywood movie stardom. He skyrocketed to fame in the 1940s, topping the Billboard charts and appearing in films and movies. In an effort to revive his career after scandals in his personal life, he became one of the first resident entertainers in Las Vegas, where he became part of the famous Rat Pack. Known for songs like New York, New York and movies such as Guys and Dolls, Sinatra's legacy is often associated with his Grammy and Oscar award-winning showmanship, but he also had a hidden talent.
See also: Philippe Halsman: Photographer to the Stars
Although Sinatra is renowned for his music, what many don't know is that he was also an artist. He enjoyed painting for over 40 years, playing with whimsical representations of flowers and clowns, as well as boldly coloured geometric abstractions that drew inspiration from Cubism.
He started painting in the 1950, but did most of his painting in the 1980s and '90s at his home in Palm Springs, California, a resort haven for artists, designers and Hollywood entertainers. He often exchanged and shared these works with his close circle of Hollywood and music industry power players, but never sold them during his lifetime.
Want more articles like this straight to your inbox? Subscribe to our free newsletter!
“For the past ten years or so my father has painted in a geometric abstract style, which has been very satisfying for him," wrote Sinatra's daughter Tina in her 1991 book A Man and His Art. "He is a fastidious person, a detail man, so he relishes the precision required to paint severe forms."
Though Sinatra loved to create art, he was also an illustrious collector of works by artists like David Hockney, Pablo Picasso, Marc Chagall, Walt Kuhn and Joan Miró. He was married to his fourth wife, Barbara Marx, for 22 years, and together they amassed an extraordinary collection of fine art, jewellery, home décor, historical memorabilia and more. With Barbara's death in July 2017, the couple's estate was entrusted to Sotheby's for auction in December 2018.
See also: The Iconic Shades of Elvis
Between the live and online auctions at Sotheby's, 17 of Sinatra's paintings were on offer that were completed between 1989-1991. Sinatra's artistic record was set at the December sale, with an untitled geometric abstraction selling for £78,300, about 10 times its estimate. In 2016, another of Sinatra's paintings that had been part of President Ronald Reagan's collection sold for £66,588 at Christie's.
Discover more articles on Barnebys Magazine
This is an updated version of the article originally published on 28 November 2018.
