Category: Auctions
Paris Sales
June 8 2021
Picture: Christie's
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
I thought I would point out that both major auction houses have upcoming sales in Paris this month.
Christie's Paris will be hosting a sale on 16th June 2021 with their top lots include works by the likes of Claude-Joseph Vernet (pictured), Alexandre-Francois Desportes, and Jan Bruegel the Elder.
Sotheby's Paris will be hosting an online sale between 10th - 14th June 2021 with their top lots including works by Giovanni Battista Pittoni, A Neapolitan School painting of St Agatha, and a pair of musical still lifes by the Studio of Bartolomeo Bettera.
The Duke of Hamilton's Emma Hamilton at Sotheby's
June 8 2021
Picture: Sotheby's
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
Ever wondered how many times you can fit the word 'Hamilton' into one sentence?
Sotheby's will be offering the Duke of Hamilton's portrait of Emma Hamilton as the Three Muses by Hugh Douglas Hamilton in their upcoming July Sale. The painting was commissioned by Emma's husband Sir William Hamilton and later came into the collection of his nephew William Beckford. The painting then descended into the Duke's family during the nineteenth century and had hung in Hamilton Palace, one of the country's greatest houses before it was demolished between 1921-1926.
This important British painting will be offered for sale in London on 7th July 2021 carrying an estimate of £400k - £600k.
Here is the full list of highlights of Sotheby's upcoming London sale.
Christie's to offer the 'Hekking Mona Lisa' for €200k - €300k
May 26 2021
Picture: Christie's
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
I've spotted that Christie's Paris will be offering up The Hekking Mona Lisa in a single online sale between 11th - 18th June 2021. The work, which is catalogued as 'ÉCOLE ITALIENNE DU DÉBUT DU XVIIe SIÈCLE, SUIVEUR DE LÉONARD DE VINCI', will carry a rather impressive €200k - €300k estimate.
As their catalogue note makes clear, the punchy estimate reflects the growing trend for high prices achieved by copies of Leonardo's iconic painting. Notably, this includes a 17th century version which sold at Sotheby's in New York for $1,695,000, another version of the same date which sold in Paris in November 2019 for €552,500, and third version which sold at Christie's Paris in June 2019 for €162,500.
This particular version receives its name from its previous owner, the antiquarian Raymond Hekking (d.1977), who had made attempts during the 1950s and 60s to prove that his version was the original. Naturally, these claims have since been dropped.
NGA Acquires other half of Dosso Dossi Painting
May 25 2021
Picture: Christie's
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The National Gallery of Art in Washington DC have announced their acquisition of a Landscape by Dosso Dossi (also known as The Trojans Building the Temple to Venus at Eryx and Making Offerings at Anchises’s Grave) from the recent Christie's Old Master Paintings Sale in New York. Indeed, the gallery already owned the other half of the painting Aeneas and Achates on the Libyan Coast. This sixteenth century masterpiece was originally part of the decorations made for Duke Alfonso d’Este’s study in Ferrara. It is believed that work had been separated into two during the later nineteenth century.
Fortunately, Christie's spliced the two images together for their catalogue note, which makes for very interesting reading:
(Women) Artists at Sotheby's (ctd.)
May 24 2021
Picture: Sotheby's
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
Online bidding has opened for Sotheby's new (Women) Artists Sale which ends on 27th May 2021. On the old masters front, there are works by Lavinia Fontana, Rachel Ruysch, Catarina Ykens (pictured), Mary Beale (reserve already met), and a picture attributed to Jeanne Elisabeth Chaudet. As usual, the catalogue notes make for very interesting reading.
I'll report back once the sale ends!
Sleeper Alert!
May 24 2021
Picture: Enchères Côte d'Opale
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
There was news on Twitter over the weekend (via. @autionradar) that the above painting catalogued as 'Dans le Goût de SAENRENDAM Pieter Jansz' realised €290,000 (hammer price) over its €300 estimate at Enchères Côte d'Opale on Saturday.
Sotheby's Results
May 21 2021
Picture: Sotheby's
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
Yesterday's Master Paintings sale at Sotheby's New York realised a total of $6,936,618 with 69.7% of lots sold.
Many of the top lots managed to hit their estimates. Amongst the pictures that exceeded their estimates were Allori's Portrait of a Lady which made $315,000 over its $150k - $200k estimate; Paris Bordone's Portrait of a Woman which made $75,600 over its rather tempting $15k - $20k estimate; a 'Workshop of Botticelli' Madonna and Child which realised $239,400 over its $100k - $150k estimate; Jan Brueghel II and Francken II's floral Madonna which made $63,000 over its $20k - $30k estimate and Rudolph von Alt's view of the Doge's Palace which made $132,300 over its $40k - $60k estimate.
Sleeper Alert!
May 19 2021
Picture: Millon
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
News on Twitter (via. @Mweilc) that the following marble sculpture catalogued as 'ECOLE ITALIENNE DU XIXÈME, DANS LE GOÛT DU BERNIN' smashed through its €6k - €8k estimate to realise €110,500 (inc. fees) at the auction house Millon in Paris. The name of Filippo Parodi (1630-1702) has been whispered by some online.
Lavinia Fontana's Lucia Bonasoni di Garzoni Doubles Estimate
May 18 2021
Picture: subastassegre.com
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The Subastas Segre auction house in Madrid realised a rather impressive price today for Lavinia Fontana's Portrait of Lucia Bonasoni di Garzoni. The picture, dated to 1590, doubled its estimate of €40k - €50k and was eventually sold to a telephone bidder for €140,000. The Spanish press are speculating as to whether a Spanish institution will step in to try and keep the work in the country, if indeed the new owner intends to export the painting.
__________
As a lutenist, I am absolutely drawn to the beautifully depicted instrument that features within the painting. The attention to detail lavished on the strings and concaved ribs are lovely. Equally, it is just about possible to read the so-called Italian tablature that Fontana painted into the picture. I've strummed through it and it seems to make some sense. I'll let you know if I find the exact song it may refer to.
Sleeper Alert!
May 14 2021
Picture: Bertolami
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
News on Twitter (via. @auctionradar) that this painting catalogued as 'Allegory of Painting or Self-portrait of painter - Emilian School, second half of the 17th century' made €167,500 (hammer price) over its €3,600 - €4,400 estimate at Bertolami Fine Arts auction in Italy this afternoon.
Dylan Thomas's Last Portrait Acquired
May 14 2021
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The last portrait made of the Welsh poet Dylan Thomas (1914-1953) has been acquired by the Carmarthenshire County Council. The work, painted in September 1953, was purchased for £15,000 with contributions from Art Fund and the Arts Council England/V&A Purchase Grant Fund and the National Lottery.
To quote the news report linked above:
The council's executive board member for culture, sport and tourism, Cllr Peter Hughes Griffiths said: “We are absolutely delighted to be bringing this painting back to where Dylan Thomas spent his last years. It will take pride of place in the new gallery at Carmarthenshire Museum later this year for everyone to enjoy.”
The painting will be professionally conserved before going on display in a new gallery at Carmarthenshire Museum from September. It will then go on tour to the Dylan Thomas Boathouse and other venues in the region before returning to Carmarthenshire.
Alice Cooper to Sell Warhol he had 'Forgotten About'
May 14 2021
Video: Fox
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
Here's a curious news story that the Rockstar Alice Cooper is selling an Andy Warhol print that he had 'forgotten about'. It was purchased for Cooper by a former girlfriend during the 1970s for $2,500. Little Electric Chair will be auctioned off carrying an estimate of $2.5m - $4.5m.
Sleeper Alert!
May 13 2021
Picture: Parker Fine Art Auctions
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The following grisaille of a Man on a Rearing Horse catalogued as 'Circle of Rubens' just realised £58,000 over its £300 - £500 estimate at Parker Fine Art Auctions in Surrey.
Fans of Rubens will know the series of studies that the artist made of horses and their riders in various poses. Indeed, one such study sold at Sotheby's New York in 2017 for $5,075,000.
Modern & Contemporary Sales Achieve High Results
May 13 2021
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
Both Christie's and Sotheby's have managed to achieve some rather enormous prices for their recent Modern & Contemporary sales in New York.
Last night's three sales at Sotheby's managed to achieve $596.8m over their $436.8m high pre-sale estimate. Substantial prices were realised for pictures by Monet, Andy Warhol, Basquiat and Robert Colescott.
Christie's 21st Century Evening sale eventually realised a total of $210,471,500 and saw records set for 11 artists. Their top lot was a $93,105,000 Basquiat, however, it seems to have been the high prices achieved for NFTs that has captured most of the popular attention. The auction house will be continuing their inaugural 20th and 21st Century week today and tomorrow with top ticketed lots by the likes of Georges Seurat, Van Gogh, Monet and Mondrian expected to achieve impressive results.
Dorotheum's June Sale
May 12 2021
Picture: Dorotheum
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The Dorotheum auction house in Vienna have uploaded their online catalogue for their upcoming sale on 8th June 2021.
As usual, the sale is full of interesting pictures. The top lots include a Guercino, a Guardi of the Rialto Bridge, a Luca Penni mythological scene, and an Artemisia Gentileschi whose catalogue note makes for an interesting read.
The above Portrait of a Nobleman as Aeneas by Nicolas Régnier, estimated at €120k - €180k, may be my favourite from the sale.
Newark Museum of Art to Sell 17 Works
May 11 2021
Picture: Sotheby's
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
Artnews.com have published an article on the outcry regarding news that the Newark Museum of Art in New Jersey are planning to sell 14 works of art at auction. The museum will be selling several American works later this month including Thomas Cole's Arch of Nero at Sotheby's carrying an estimate of $500k - $700k (pictured).
50 cultural historians have signed a letter to the museum's director encouraging officials to change their minds.
Linda Harrison, director of the Newark Museum of Art, has responded to critics that the choice of works were:
carefully and thoughtfully considered.
...
Deaccessioning is a routine and necessary component of the work of any museum, and is especially important for the Newark Museum of Art, which currently has holdings numbering around 130,000...
The 'lost' Bonnet Portrait of Emily Bronte (?)
May 11 2021
Picture: Humbert & Ellis Ltd
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The Craven Herald in North Yorkshire have published news of the upcoming sale of what has been described as The 'lost' Bonnet Portrait of Emily Brontë.
The work is being sold from the estate of late Professor Christopher Heywood of Gargrave, a professor of English literature at the University of Sheffield who dedicated much of his time trying to prove his painting depicted the famed author. Indeed, Heywood had purchased the painting at auction in 2011 and published an article on the portrait in The Journal of the Bronte Society in 2015. Notably, the back of the portrait, which he attributed to the Bradford artist John Hunter Thompson, bears an inscription on the back identifying the sitter as Emily.
Heywood's article has been disputed by several figures, including Sarah Fermi - a former Bronte Society member, literary critic Patsy Stoneman and a Bronte biographer Edward Chitham.
The work will be sold on Saturday 23rd May 2021 carrying an estimate of £25k - £40k.
As the old saying goes, CAVEAT EMPTOR.
Sofonisba Anguissola and Artemisia Gentileschi lead Van Ham Sale
May 10 2021
Picture: Van Ham
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
Van Ham Kunstauktionen in Cologne, Germany, are leading their June Fine Art sale with works by two female artists. This is another sign perhaps of the growing trend and appreciation for women artists at auction. The first picture is a Portrait of a Child by Sofonisba Anguissola (pictured), a work produced during the artist's first stay in Sicily in c.1573. The painting has received a blessing from the scholar Prof. Marco Tanzi and will carry an estimate of €35k - €45k. Secondly, the auction will also contain a Mary Magdalene by Artemisia Gentileschi, a picture given the thumbs up by Riccardo Lattuada, which will carry an estimate of €30k - €40k.
Both paintings will be offered for sale on 2nd June 2021.
Sotheby's Mid-Season NY Sale
May 8 2021
Picture: Sotheby's
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
Sotheby's New York have published the online catalogue for their upcoming mid-season Master Paintings Sale. The sale will take place on 20th May 2021.
Amongst the many interesting top lots are An early re-discovered Canaletto View of the Grand Canal and Rialto bridge estimated at $400k - $600k; An Italianate Landscape by Jan Both estimated at $400k - $600k; An interesting set of Bird Still Lives from the Marion Collection including this fine Hondecoeter estimated at $200k - $300k; A portrait of a Lady by Allesandro Allori (pictured) estimated at $150k - $200k; A Giovanni di Paolo di Grazia of St. Elizabeth of Hungary estimated at $250k - $350k and a Juan de Espinosa Still Life estimated at $150k - $250k.
Leonardo Bear Drawing Coming up for Sale at Christie's
May 8 2021
Picture: Christie's
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
Exciting news today that Christie's will be offering a drawing of a Head of a Bear by Leonardo da Vinci in their upcoming July sale in London. The drawing has a distinguished British provenance as it was in the collection of the painter Thomas Lawrence PRA and was later purchased by the dealer Samuel Woodburn. It is believed to be only one of eight drawings by Leonardo left in private hands.
Reports suggest the the rare drawing will carry an estimate of £8m - £12m.
More news when it appears!
Update - Here is the official press release from Christie's.
