New York, 23 April 2026 - Christie's is honored to announce the Rabb Goldberg Collection, assembled over two generations by the prestigious New England family. The collection finds its roots in the 1960s when Sidney and Esther Rabb acquired gems of French Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art, with their daughter Carol and her husband, Avram Goldberg, following in their collecting tradition with a focus on contemporary art. The group includes works by masters including Edgar Degas, Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Edouard Vuillard as well as post-war examples by Alexander Calder, Lynn Chadwick, Louise Nevelson and more.
The collection is led by Quatre danseuses, an exquisite pastel by Degas which will be featured in the 20th Century Evening Sale (estimate: $5 to 7 million). An exceptional, large-scale example of the artist's iconic dancers posed in the wings of the Paris Opéra, the composition employs radiant color and innovative pastel application.
Vanessa Fusco, Head of Impressionist & Modern Art, Christie's, remarks, "It is a privilege for Christie's to play a role in stewarding the art collection of an exceptional family who were and still are tireless champions of the Boston community. Through their support of universities, hospitals, museums, art organizations and a wide range of community programs, the Rabb Goldbergs have enriched public life. The richly worked and vividly colored pastel by Degas from the collection demonstrates the artist's mastery of his favored medium, the layered surfaces dense in texture and radiant with color. This sensational work, acquired almost sixty years ago, has been generously lent to exhibitions over decades at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, where the Rabb Gallery of European Impressionism further testifies to the family's commitment to public service."
Among the most influential couples in Boston's business and philanthropic history, Sidney and Esther Rabb had a lifelong commitment to the arts reflecting an enduring belief in the value of culture and community. Mr. Rabb began his career in 1919 when he entered his family's grocery business at age 18. By the age of 30 he rose to Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, a role he would hold for 55 years. Under Mr. Rabb and his brothers' leadership, the modest enterprise evolved into Stop & Shop, a popular and celebrated mainstay of the area.
Mr. and Mrs. Rabb's daughter Carol and her husband, Avram Goldberg, joined the family business in the late 1950s, each progressing through numerous management roles. Mr. Goldberg became Stop & Shop President in the 1970s and, upon Sidney Rabb's passing in 1985, he became the company's Chairman & CEO, with Mrs. Goldberg succeeding her husband to become President, making the Goldbergs among the most notable husband and wife executive partnerships in American business history. Mrs. Goldberg was a trailblazing figure for women across the realms of business, philanthropy, and public service. Above all, she believed that leadership's highest calling was to open doors for and become a mentor to others.
Mr. and Mrs. Goldberg brought the same forward-looking spirit to their art collection, combining their focus on modern art of the 1920s through the 1980s with the great classic pieces they inherited from Mr. and Mrs. Rabb. With a stronger inclination toward contemporary art, they expanded the collection to include a dynamic group of Post-War works, creating a dialogue with the Impressionist masterpieces passed down from the previous generation. The result was a collection that bridged eras, with contemporary voices harmonizing with the Impressionist masters that came before them.
Collection highlights and sale schedule include:
(Press Release)
