Press release —
The Art Collection of Architect Henning Larsen to Be Offered at Auction
One of Denmark’s most notable private art collections, assembled over several decades by internationally renowned architect Henning Larsen and his wife author Lone Backe, comes to auction at Bruun Rasmussen on 8 October 2026.
Bruun Rasmussen is proud to present the private art collection of Danish architect Henning Larsen (1925–2013) and author Lone Backe (1942–2026) at a special Live Auction in Lyngby, Denmark, on 8 October 2026.
Henning Larsen and Lone Backe built a collection reflecting their deep commitment to art and a life shaped by aesthetics and storytelling. The collection comprises around 200 works by some of the most significant artists of Danish and international modernism, offering a rare insight into 20th-century art across different countries and artistic movements.
The couple had a particular talent for creating spaces where architecture, art and everyday life converged. This was evident in their apartment in a 19th-century building overlooking the park “Kongens Have” in the heart of Copenhagen, where the collection unfolded as an integral part of their home. Each work was carefully selected, not only for its artistic value, but also for the personal meaning it held for the couple.
“We are incredibly proud to have been entrusted with the sale of Henning Larsen and Lone Backe’s collection. It is a very personal collection, and several of the works are connected to the couple’s experiences and close relationships,” says Niels Raben, Chief Art Specialist, Bruun Rasmussen.
From Vilhelm Hammershøi to Le Corbusier
Henning Larsen and Lone Backe had a particular affection for Danish Symbolist Vilhelm Hammershøi, whose work occupies a special place in the collection.
Among the highlights is Hammershøi’s Nøgen Kvindelig Model. Staaende. Profil mod højre from 1886, estimated at DKK 4.5–5.5 million, as well as a portrait of the artist’s sister, Anna Hammershøi, estimated at DKK 1.5–2 million.
The collection also encompasses a wide range of Danish and international artists, including Le Corbusier, Asger Jorn and Swedish modernist Isaac Grünewald, as well as works by contemporary Danish artists Christian Lemmerz and Tal R.
Also among the collection’s notable works are Pablo Picasso’s Étude pour Le déjeuner sur l’herbe from 1962, estimated at DKK 1,5–2 million, and Isaac Grünewald’s On the Beach from around 1917, estimated at DKK 1–1.2 million.
Together, the works offer a nuanced picture of the development of modernism and its many expressions across time and geography.
The “Master of Light”
For Henning Larsen, art occupied a central place alongside architecture. He became one of Denmark’s most significant architects and left a distinctive mark on international architecture with projects including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Riyadh, the Royal Danish Opera in Copenhagen, Copenhagen Business School and Malmö City Library.
Larsen was rightly known as the “Master of Light”, recognised for his ability to allow light to shape architectural space. His innovative approach to architecture and his constant desire to challenge its boundaries became central to his work.
Throughout his life, he kept his sketchbook close at hand and made thousands of drawings in which ideas and spaces first took form. A number of these architectural drawings will be offered at auction alongside the works from the couple’s art collection.
A Personal Collection
The collection reflects the shared life of two people with a broad outlook and a deep love of art.
Henning Larsen and Lone Backe married in 1991. Lone Backe was a writer who published a number of books and articles throughout her life on sexuality, love, gender roles and Copenhagen.
The art collection they built together is deeply personal, reflecting as a whole their strong sense of quality and their ability to create a home in which art, architecture and life came together.
Proceeds to Henning Larsen Foundation
The proceeds from the sale of the Henning Larsen art collection will go to the Henning Larsen Foundation, which was established by Henning Larsen in 2001 with the purpose of supporting, promoting and disseminating Danish architecture through grants, exhibitions, publications and other outreach projects.
The Art Collection of Henning Larsen and Lone Backe will be offered at a special Live Auction at Bruun Rasmussen in Lyngby just north of Copenhagen, Denmark, on 8 October 2026. Explore the entire collection HERE.
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Bruun Rasmussen has since 1948 sold art, design, jewellery, wristwatches, antiques and collectibles such as wine, books, coins and stamps. As the leading auction house in Denmark, we sell over 75,000 items every year at our Online Auctions at bruun-rasmussen.dk and at Live Auctions at our auction house in Lyngby.
Our specialists are the most experienced and competent in the industry. The work in the auction house places great demands on our knowledge of art and trends on the market. This way, we can provide valuations and advice of the highest quality – which has become our trademark – and thereby offer the best lots from all categories and achieve high hammer prices for the benefit of our customers.
At Bruun Rasmussen, we are one of Europe's most modern and digital auction houses, and it is only natural for us to adapt to changes in the market. Innovation is part of our DNA, while we are also deeply rooted in our history.
In 2022, after having been family-owned through three generations, we became part of the international “Bonhams Network”, expanding our global reach and access to specialists all over the world. We strategically present and sell art where it makes the most sense in relation to potential buyers.
