Frances Ingersoll, vice president of Christie’s and head of their Philadelphia office, presented “Art at Auction: High Lives and Highlights,” an inside look on how priceless works of art are auctioned, on January 31 in the Anthony J. Drexel Picture Gallery.

During her lecture, she recounted the lives of prominent collectors: tobacco heiress Doris Duke, New York collectors Victor and Sally Ganz and John and Frances Loeb, owners of the largest private collection of Picassos. Christie’s was responsible for auctioning off various pieces from all three collectors.

Ingersoll worked in the auction industry for more than 16 years, starting in 1991 with Christie’s estates and appraisals department in New York. She spent five years as an assistant vice president responsible for animation art auctions at another major auction house before returning to her hometown of Philadelphia. She supported Christie’s Philadelphia office for six years and was appointed to oversee it in 2004.

Frances Ingersoll is a descendent of Drexel University founder Anthony J. Drexel, who developed a passion for collecting art and established The Drexel Collection at the University.

For more information on the Anthony J. Drexel Gallery and The Drexel Collection, visit http://www.drexel.edu/drexelcollection/.