Category: Auctions
Bernini Drawing up for Sale in France
February 25 2021
Picture: @ActeonSenlis
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The French auction house Acteon Senlis will be auctioning off a drawing by the Baroque sculptor Gian Lorenzo Bernini next month. The academic study of a man has been linked to several surviving examples in the Uffizi and other collections. In addition to this, the composition too has been compared with the allegorical beings representing the rivers of the world in his famous fountains on the Piazza Navona in Rome.
The drawing will be offered for sale on 20th March 2021 with an estimate of €30k - €50k.
Van Gogh not seen for a Century Up for Sale
February 24 2021
Picture: The Guardian
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
A painting by Vincent Van Gogh of Montmartre which has been in a family collection for a century is coming up for sale next month at Sotheby's. The work, painted in 1887, shows one of the old windmills that used to decorate this once rural part of Paris. It has not been seen in public since it was acquired in 1920.
The painting will be sold next month with an estimate of €5m - €8m.
French State Confiscate Medieval Stained Glass Before Auction
February 24 2021
Picture: La Gazette Drouot
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
La Gazette Drouot have drawn attention to an intervention from the French State to confiscate a pair of medieval stained glass from the auction house Pierre Bergé & Associés days before they were due to go on sale.
The glass windows, dating from the twelfth century, are believed to have come from the basilica of Saint-Denis. Several selections of windows were removed from the Church in 1799 and were placed into storage. Although the windows don't appear in any of the inventories that were made of the stored glass, the French state have stated that its up to the seller to 'provide proof of their lawful provenance'.
The windows had carried estimates of €200k - €300k and €300k - €400k respectively.
Banksy vs. Banksy / Christie's vs. Sotheby's
February 23 2021
Picture: Christie's and Sotheby's
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
At first I put it down to lockdown fever, but no.
I've been rather stumped by this very curious happening on the Christie's and Sotheby's auction calendars. Both auction houses will be organising Banksy auctions on exactly the same day, in the same city and seemingly selling the exact same works.
It seems that both auction houses will be selling print versions of Love is in the Air and have picked them as the thumbnail for their sales. The Sotheby's version is estimated at £80k - £120k.
How can this make any commercial sense? Or is this the latest publicity stunt which is set to unfold in spectacular fashion?
Sleeper Alert!
February 18 2021
Picture: Carlo Bonte
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
News on Twitter (via. @auctionradar) that the above painting 'Attributed to Frans Francken the Younger' made €195,000 (hammer price) over its low €25,000 estimate today at Carlo Bonte Auctions in Belgium.
The condition report included the following:
Condition: - after removing the frame on demand of a client, a signature was discovered. The attribution to Sebastian Vrancx, as noted on the frame, was not corrected.
Consignor Family Member Sues Over Rembrandt Sleeper
February 8 2021
Picture: Leiden Collection
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The Art Newspaper have published an intriguing story regarding a law suit surrounding a Rembrandt Sleeper that made $870,000 over its $800 estimate in 2015.
Jay Rappoport, a member of the family who consigned the painting to auction in 2015, accuses his own relatives and the provincial auction house who sold the work of deception, fraud and conspiracy to deceive him. Rappoport, whose grandfather bought the painting prior to the 1920s, claims his aunt consigned the work to auction after the death of his grandmother without consulting him or gaining his permission as 'heir'.
The claimant is also suing the painting's new owner Thomas Kaplan who acquired the picture for $4m for the Leiden Collection. However, the article also draws attention to Rappoport's previous lawsuit against Steven Spielberg and Paramount pictures for 'stealing his ideas'. Curious.
Sotheby's Reveal another Italian Renaissance Portrait!
February 7 2021
Picture: Sotheby's
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
Sotheby's have just announced on Instagram that they'll be selling another very fine Italian Renaissance Portrait later this year. Piero del Pollaiuolo's (c.1443-1496) Portrait of a Youth (pictured) is the latest Italian masterpiece to come up for sale at the auction house. Indeed, their Instagram Post explains that the portrait had been in the same collection as their most recent $80m Botticelli. Both pictures had been in the collection of the scientist, inventory and art collector Thomas Ralph Merton (d.1969)
The portrait will be sold in London on 25th March 2021. No estimate has been released yet.
More news when it arrives!
Update - A reader on Twitter (@everardbone) has pointed out the following document, which explains the painting has already been cleared for export.
The document also points out to the fact the picture was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1960, however has been unseen in a private collection for several decades now. Questions concerning the painting's condition have also been highlighted.
It suggests the guide price will be £5,000,000.
Update 2 - A reader has been in touch with this link to the painting's entry in the Zeri database. The work was last sold at Christie's in 1985 where it was previously given to Cosimo Rosselli.
Isn't it interesting that his fringe has changed shape over time?
Update 3 - The painting will carry an estimate of £4m - £6m. Here's a full article by artnews.com.
Withdrawn Sotheby's Rembrandt Finds Private Buyer
February 6 2021
Picture: Sotheby's
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
Several reports have been published explaining that Sotheby's Rembrandt of Abraham and the Angels has found a private buyer. The picture was withdrawn from the New York Old Masters sale but has since found a buyer within its original $20m - $30m dollar estimate.
It's quite possible that the auction house couldn't find enough interested parties before the live auction. There's nothing more deflating than a high value picture being bought in. However, this good news does help alleviate any worries in the top end of the old masters market.
Christie's to Sell Churchill's Only Wartime Painting
February 2 2021
Picture: Christie's
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
Following on from the ongoing developments regarding the rise of Sir Winston Churchill's prices at auction, Christie's has announced that it will be offering his only wartime painting at auction on 1st March 2021. Tower of the Koutoubia Mosque was completed in January 1943 during the Casablanca Conference. He is believed to have captured the scene for Franklin D. Roosevelt, with whom he had met during this visit. The work, sold from the Jolie Family Collection, will carry an estimate of £1,500,000 - £2,500,000.
Update - I've just spotted from another article that the Jolie Collection mentioned was in fact the one created by the film star Angelina Jolie. Surprising, to say the least!
Ipswich Museum Acquires Constable Album
February 2 2021
Picture: Ipswich Museum
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The Ipswich Museum have acquired the Mason family album which was offered for sale at Sotheby's last year. The unrecorded album contains four works by John Constable including drawings of his family members. The album was purchased for £24,000 through funding from the Friends of the Ipswich Museums, Arts Council England/V&A Purchase Grant Fund, Art Fund and Ipswich Council’s Felix Cobbold Bequest.
The council run museum were sure, it seems, to include this particular line in their press release:
The album was bought for £24,000 - but no council taxpayers' money was used.
Dunrobin Castle Attic Sale
February 2 2021
Picture: Bonhams
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
Something to look forward to in April. The Earl of Sutherland* has been going through his attics at Dunrobin Castle it seems and has partnered up with Bonhams to put on a sale of things they don't need. The sale will be held on 20th April 2021 in their Edinburgh branch. It seems alongside furniture and other related paraphernalia, there are some paintings and sculpture to be included too.
* - I'm grateful to a reader for pointing out that the castle is in fact owned by the Earl of Sutherland, not the Duke of Sutherland.
Francesco Guardi's Portrait of Bonnie Prince up for Sale
January 31 2021
Picture: Pandolfini
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The Italian auction house Pandolfini are offering up a very interesting portrait of Charles Edward Stuart by the Venetian painter Francesco Guardi in their upcoming sale. It is believed the portrait was completed when the Prince was in Venice during 1737, and is likely to be Guardi's copy of Rosalba Carriera's portrait of the Prince made that year. This version ended up in the Marshal von der Schulenburg collection where it is recorded in archival materials. It is believed to be one of Franesco Guardi's earliest known completed works, created when he was twenty-six years old.
The portrait will be offered for sale on 2nd February 2021 with an estimate of €30,000 - €50,000.
Update - The portrait made €120,000.
Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature Acquires Huntsman
January 30 2021
Video: Artcento
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature in Paris has acquired the above painting of a huntsman by Jean Daret (1614-1668) and Nicasius Bernaerts (1620-1678). The picture made €373,520 at the auction house Mathias - Bournazel yesterday, soaring past its €60k - €80k estimate.
Here's a full write up by La Tribune de l'Art, alongside this article by La Gazette Drouot.
Attic Rummage Reveals £2.5k Painting
January 28 2021
Picture: Stratford Observer
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
A curious story this. The Stratford Observer in Warwickshire has published a story regarding a painting found by a local resident who was inspecting their attic during lockdown last year.
According to the report:
The Stratford resident found the old canvas which depicted drunken Bacchus – Roman God of wine – during a lockdown inspired rummage.
Although the painting was unframed and in poor condition, the finder decided to get it checked out before consigning it to the skip. They took it to Hansons Auctioneers who recognised it as the hand of 17th century Italian painter Filippo Lauri.
...
Despite its poor condition, it was estimated between £1,000 and £1,500. It eventually sold for £2,500 to an Italian client based in Rome – meaning the painting went home to its place of creation.
Needless to say, the painting was actually catalogued as 'Manner of Filippo Lauri' rather than given to the artist in full. Looks like a copy of something to me. Perhaps a reader of AHN might have a clue. Alternatively, perhaps you know of someone who forgot to take that old painting with them when they moved house a few years ago?
Botticelli goes for $80m at Sotheby's
January 28 2021
Picture: Sotheby's
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
Sotheby's Botticelli Renaissance Man pulled in an enormous $80m (hammer price) in New York this evening. With commission this adds up to $92,184,000. Bidding ended with two experts on the phone, with the Russian department representative eventually with the last bid.
In a rather shocking piece of news, the $20m - $30m Rembrandt was withdrawn before the sale began. Was there a lack of interest perhaps?
More analysis in the upcoming days.
Unfinished Guido Reni up for Sale
January 27 2021
Video: Artcento
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The French auction house Me LABARBE are offering an unfinished painting of Cleopatra by Guido Reni at auction tomorrow. This previously unidentified painting, completed in his looser and so-called 'second manner', has been linked to a picture in the artist's studio sale in 1642.
The painting will sold on 28th January 2021 and carries a tempting estimate of €80,000 - €120,000.
Here's a write up from La Gazette Drouot.
Update - After having a rummage around the internet, it appears that the painting didn't sell (?). I'd be grateful if a reader wants to correct me on this point!
Sleeper Alert!
January 27 2021
Picture: thesaleroom.com
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
Over the past few days social media has experienced a flurry of posts and pictures featuring the painting above. Catalogued as '18th century Italian School', the work finally made £100,000 (hammer price) over its £400 - £600 estimate today at Reeman Dansie in Colchester, Essex. Indeed, online bidding had already passed the £20,000 mark yesterday evening with 122 profiles watching the lot.
This beautiful work is surely a sketch by Mary Beale (1633-1699), whose brilliant and intimate portraits of her children have become rather desirable over the past decade. Two such comparable sketches are in the collection of Tate Britain. Another portrait of one of her sons sold for £93,750 (inc. commission) at Sotheby's in 2019.
Update - A reader has written with the following comment:
There was a very similar one, overlooked in Adam Partridge a couple of years ago which made about £15,800 plus fees. Of course, the new one is a charming image but how to account for such a price?
This is quite true, the aforementioned full-catalogued Sotheby's picture made a rather top-end price for similar work a mere two years ago. One wonders whether it was acquired by a dealer or collector. However as the old saying goes, nothing sells quite like a sleeper!
Update 2 - A reader has pointed out that the aforementioned Sotheby's picture is now in the collection of the National Gallery of Victoria in Australia.
Jean Decourt Miniature of Henri III Uncovered at Auction
January 26 2021
Picture: The Independent
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
Several news outlets have reported on news of a recently uncovered miniature of Henri III of France. This signed and dated miniature by Jean Decourt was discovered by the London art dealer Philip Mould at auction last year.
Most of the newspapers seem to gone with the headlines which draw attention to the King's more eccentric interest in women's fashion. Reports also explain that the art dealer is currently trying to sell the miniature to the Louvre Museum, as it is likely that the portrait was produced within this royal residence in 1578.
Update - A reader had been in touch to pose the following question regarding the miniature:
Just to say, as you will know, there is a Nicholas Hilliard miniature of Henri III in the Djangoly collection which was shown in the Elizabethan Treasures exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery. Done sometime 1576-78 when NH in France. Shows a younger, smarter Henri III. No-one seems to have mentioned the similarities and differences between these two. It is obvious that the Decourt shows him as older and more dissolute looking. His hairline is different, receding maybe and his ruff makes his head look abit stuck on. Is it likely that Decourt knew the Hilliard miniature and adapted bits of it 20 years later?
(....)
In the NH Henri III wears on his chain a pendant of St. Michel - just before he founded the Saint Esprit. Cant see any orders on the Decourt when he would have been wearing the Saint-Esprit.
I posed the query to miniatures expert Emma Rutherford who kindly supplied the following answer:
The Hilliard and Decourt portraits of Henri III were painted within 2 years of each other. Both artists were at the French court at the same time - Hilliard was in the service of the King's younger brother and Decourt employed by the King himself. The likely date for the Hilliard portrait is late 1576 - but Hilliard was still in France in 1578 when this portrait of Henri was painted by Decourt. The order of the Saint-Espirit was founded by Henri 31st December 1578 so that explains its absence in both of these portraits. In the portrait of the king by Hilliard the order of St Michael is just visible. The Decourt still has the original gold border and has not been trimmed.
Manet Dog Sketch up for Sale
January 24 2021
Picture: Drouot
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
A rare and very sketchy painting of a dog by Édouard Manet is coming up for sale at the French auction house Drouot next month. This pet, owned by the daughter of a Paris innkeeper Marguerite Lathuille, was supposedly completed in a mere twenty minutes. It has remained in the same family's collection until now.
The painting will be sold on 26th February 2021 with an estimate of €220,000 - €280,000.
Gerband van den Eeckhout Resurfaces in French Castle
January 22 2021
Picture: La Gazette Drouot
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
La Gazette Drouot has drawn attention to a recently resurfaced painting by Rembrandt's pupil Gerbrand van den Eeckhout that is coming up for sale next week. Pharaoh Returns Sarah to Abraham was included in the Sumowski Rembrandt catalogue, but was catalogued as being in an unknown location. It recently resurfaced in a château in Poitou, France. The work will be sold on the 26th January 2021 carrying a tempting estimate of €60k - €80k.
