Sleeper Alert!
July 29 2020
Picture: Skinner Inc
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The portrait above, catalogued as 'Dutch School, 17th century' made $40,625 over an estimate of $300 - $500 at Skinner Auction in Marlborough yesterday. The unknown gentleman reminded me a lot of John Donne, or even the 2nd Earl of Essex perhaps, with its glassy smoothness evoking the works of William Larkin (?).
There were several interesting paintings in the sale that smashed their estimates. What seems to have been a corridor portrait of Mary Tudor made $21,250 over an estimate of $200 - $400; and a rather pleasing copy of Henrietta Maria after Van Dyck made $15,000 over an estimate of $1,000 - $1,500.
Update - Art dealer Philip Mould has Tweeted this photograph of the painting mid-clean.
