Art and cinema converged in a breathtaking moment at Rockefeller Center. Hollywood icon and avid arts advocate Nicole Kidman visited Christie’s New York headquarters for an intimate, mesmerizing encounter with Constantin Brancusi’s Danaïde (1913)—a seminal gold-leafed portrait considered by many to be the birth of modern sculpture.
In a newly released cinematic short film produced by Christie’s, Kidman showcases exactly what it feels like to truly engage with a world-class work of art. Set to the rhythmic backdrop of David Bowie’s classic track Golden Years, the film captures Kidman as she steps into the quiet oasis of the Rockefeller Center galleries. As she approaches the radiant sculpture, the outside world falls away, transporting her into a dream state filled with curiosity, passion, and profound artistic appreciation.
The Legacy of Danaïde and the S.I. Newhouse Collection
The brilliant, gold-leafed bronze bust was showcased as a crowning jewel of MASTERPIECES: The Private Collection of S.I. Newhouse, which opened for public viewing during Christie’s blockbuster 20th and 21st Century Art Week exhibition.
THE COVETED PROVENANCE OF BRANCUSI'S DANAÏDE
[ ANTIQUITY ] ─────────► Rooted in Greek Myth, Ovid's poetry, and Rodin's legacy
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[ PARIS, 1910 ] ───────► Inspired by Hungarian art student Margit Pogany
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[ NEW YORK, 2026 ] ────► Promoted by Nicole Kidman; sold for a record $107.6M
The story of the sculpture bridges centuries of art history:
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Historical Roots: The thematic lineage of the piece stretches from ancient Greek mythology and Ovid’s poetry to the studio of Auguste Rodin, under whom Brancusi once apprenticed.
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The Muse: Rather than a traditional mythological figure, Brancusi used the sculpture to depict a beautiful young Hungarian art student named Margit Pogany, who served as his ultimate creative muse in Paris.
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Radical Simplicity: By stripping away distracting surface details to favor an endless, looping orb, Brancusi sought a pure, elemental sense of harmony. Its gentle features, hypnotic gaze, and enigmatic smile remain just as transformative today as they were over a century ago.
A Cinematic Homage to Art History
The creative direction behind Kidman’s hypnotic video was heavily inspired by surrealist history, specifically paying homage to a famous 1930s Man Ray film that documented fellow icon Lee Miller interacting with Brancusi’s physical works.
Given Kidman’s well-known passion for human creativity, she proved to be the perfect modern counterpart to bring this artistic alchemy to life, literalizing Brancusi’s famous decree:
“Look at my sculptures until you manage to see them.”
The Billion-Dollar Results At-A-Glance
Kidman’s star-studded promotional campaign certainly magic-charged the auction room floor. Following her gallery visit, the legendary S.I. Newhouse Collection went under the hammer, cementing its place as one of the most successful single-owner art auctions in history.
| Masterpiece Object | Historical Significance | Final Auction Price (with fees) |
| Constantin Brancusi’s Danaïde (c. 1913) | Groundbreaking gold-leafed bronze bust inspired by muse Margit Pogany. | $107.6 Million (Shattered the artist’s previous record) |
| Jackson Pollock’s Number 7A, 1948 | A monumental, 11-foot-wide masterwork; the largest drip painting left in private hands. | $181.2 Million (Set the all-time auction record for the artist) |
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