The distraught estate of the late Gene Hackman, long-time distinguished actor and polymath, is headed for the auction block. It features more than 400 objects that provide a vivid glimpse into his remarkable life and multifaceted career. Floyd Hackman, who died earlier this year at 95 from heart disease complicated by Alzheimer’s, had an oversized love for art in all the ways that made him larger than life. His colourful oeuvre includes seascapes and still lifes, and copies of masterpieces by the likes of Van Gogh.
The crown jewel of the auction is a stunningly curated art collection. It features masterworks by iconic painters Richard Diebenkorn, Milton Avery, and sculptor Auguste Rodin. The centerpiece of the collection is a radiant color etching by Diebenkorn, which is projected to fetch between $300,000 and $500,000. It features a monumental bronze by Rodin, estimated at $200,000 to $300,000. In addition to those, Hackman completed more than 70 brass rubbings, mostly of unknown subjects in his makeshift studio.
Anna Hicks
, an art consultant who has helped organize some of the auction house’s top sales, was struck by Hackman’s commitment to his craft. “Within the Santa Fe community, we’ve learned there were more people that knew he took art classes from some local artists who are selling some of the journals he had from those classes,” she shared. “Some of his teachers have given us nice quotes about working with him and how dedicated he was to mastering what he was trying to do.”Hackman’s ambitions in the film world went further than his acting success. He purchased a quarter of the film rights to Thomas Harris’s The Silence of the Lambs. Then, he wrote an incredible 33-page draft script for the film. His goal was to both write and direct and act in the titular role of the infamously dark character, Hannibal Lecter. After reading the novel, his daughter talked him out of adapting the project.
“Gene Hackman’s daughter read the book. And she called her father and said, ‘Daddy, you’re not making this movie.’” – Robert Bookman, Thomas Harris’s agent.
Hackman was always interested in adapting Harris’s work. He added, “I suppose he was the one who initially really latched on to the rights and tried to produce the movie. Then I found out online that even his own circle was warning him off with, like, ‘This is too creepy, don’t do this.’ So interesting to see that although he started the project, he actually ended up withdrawing.
Though he tried to expand his range by directing as well, Hackman remains best known for his storied acting career. He won a pair of Academy Awards for his fierce performances in The French Connection and Unforgiven. This success launched him to become one of Hollywood’s most revered actors.
His artistic talent included a notable sculpture: a 14-inch tall bronze bust of his wife, Betsy Arakawa. The pair enjoyed over thirty years of wedded bliss before his death. Arakawa has been a rejuvenating presence in Hackman’s life and ongoing legacy.
Hicks praised Hackman’s artistic inclinations. Even those who knew Hackman were shocked to learn the full scope of his artistic pursuits. “To the global audience it’s an outlier. Nobody had seen this side of him, but it’s beautiful to witness the world through the artist’s perspective,” she told us. We often only get to experience what’s on camera.
Hackman’s art collection reveals both the story of his personal tastes and an exceptional eye for aesthetics. Andrew Huber commented on one piece from the collection: “It’s exactly what you want from a Milton Avery. A good variance in the color palette. It’s just before he had a medical issue that diminished him towards the end of his career. Great at-the-beach scenes of this scale and oil on canvas is something the market’s looking at, not just the American market but internationally.”
As the auction approaches, it is sure to highlight memorabilia from a storied career on and off the field. It will provide a rare window into the private life of a man who deeply mastered the intersection of fame and a deep commitment to art. The eclectic assortment of goods reflects Hackman’s colorful public image as a film star. It reveals his less bombastic passions as an artist.