Sotheby's New York Delays Velázquez Auction
January 5 2024
Picture: The Art Newspaper
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
There was much speculation in the press over the holiday regarding the disappearance (for a second time) of the aforementioned $35m Portrait Isabel de Borbón, Queen of Spain by Diego Velázquez from the Sotheby's website. Eager auction watchers had spotted that it had not been included in upcoming Sotheby's New York January sale season, despite press releases promising that it would be.
The Art Newspaper today has finally run a story explaining that the painting was "withdrawn from Sotheby’s over 'ongoing discussions' among the sellers".
According to the article above:
In a statement, the auction house said the consignors “have reluctantly decided on a temporary pause in the sale process, due to ongoing discussions on their side”. Despite this, and “given the excitement with which the Velázquez has been received thus far”, Sotheby’s said both the auction house and the sellers “look forward to offering this exceptional painting for sale in the near future”.
