N.Y. Museum Gets $1-Billion Gift of Cubist Art

The Metropolitan Museum of Art received one of the most significant gifts in its history, as philanthropist and cosmetics tycoon Leonard Lauder promised the New York institution his collection of 78 Cubist paintings, drawings, and sculptures, according to The New York Times.

Valued at more than $1 billion, the collection is among the world’s greatest and includes 33 Picassos and 17 Braques. The Met board approved the gift Tuesday.

“In one fell swoop this puts the Met at the forefront of early-20^th-century art,” museum director Thomas Campbell said.