Category: Auctions
Rediscovered Mathieu Le Nain Coming Up in France
March 7 2025
Picture: Euvrard & Fabre
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
La Gazette Drouot has drawn attention to this rather curious and rare rediscovered Madonna and Child by Mathieu Le Nain (1607- 1677) which is coming up at Euvrard & Fabre later this month. The picture has been compared to other such rare examples that survive in various museums and even appears to have been painted over a portrait by the artist (for images click here).
Christie's Paris Drawings
March 6 2025
Picture: Christie's
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
Christie's Paris have uploaded their aforementioned Dessins Anciens et du XIXe siècle sale online. The auction will take place on 26th March 2025.
Rediscovered Poussin Drawing to Headline Christie's Paris Sale
March 3 2025
Picture: Christie's
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
Christie's Paris have shared news that a rediscovered drawing by Nicolas Poussin will headline their upcoming Dessins Anciens et du XIXe siècle sale on 26th March 2025.
According to their press release:
Belonging to the prestigious British collection of Jonathan Richardson senior (1665-1745), this delicate composition in a blond wash (highly characteristic of Nicolas Poussin’s drawings) of Sainte Catherine agenouillée entourée de putti et regardant une image pieuse depicts the kneeling Saint Catherine surrounded by putti and gazing at a sacred image (€60,000-80,000), while the object which caused her martyrdom, the wheel, is shown broken not far from her. This early drawing, probably produced in Rome between 1627 and 1630, is stylistically similar to a group of mythological scenes, also featuring putti, in the Musée de Condé in Chantilly, the Beaux-Arts in Paris and the Uffizi in Florence.
Joan Carlile Sleeper!
March 2 2025
Picture: lawsons.com.au
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
A reader of this blog has kindly been in touch to let me know of this intriguing picture catalogued as 'Circle of Peter Lely' which made 45,000 AUD (the equivalent of £22,200) over its 2,000 - 3,000 AUD estimate at Lawsons in Australia today. It seems rather clear that this is a lost work by Joan Carlile (see here for another example), and a very beautiful one at that. I'm sure the picture will turn up somewhere interesting in due course!
Update - Thierry at @auctionradar made a good observation on Instagram yesterday that it appears the composition was inspired by Titian's Portrait of Laura Dianti (last recorded in the Kisters collection). The engraver Aegidius Sadeler made a print of the painting when it was in the collection of Rudolf II in Prague, which is probably how Joan Carlile came to know this particular Titian.
$80m Saunders Collection coming up at Sotheby's New York
February 28 2025
Picture: Sotheby's
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The New York Times has broken news of an $80m collection of Old Masters which Sotheby's New York will be auctioning off in May 2025. The collection formed by Thomas A. Saunders III, a former chairman of the influential conservative think tank the Heritage Foundation, includes works by Francesco Guardi, Jan Davidsz. de Heem (pictured), Luis Meléndez, Sir Thomas Lawrence, Adriaen Coorte, Gerrit Dou and Salomon van Ruysdael. The group of 60 paintings were acquired between 1998 - 2000 to decorate his and his wife's New York apartment.
Some of the highlights from the upcoming sale are currently on view at Sotheby's London in New Bond Street, in case any readers might want to go and take a look.
Update - Here's more information, plus lots of images of the works included, from the Sotheby's website.
Wheelie bin Romney up for sale
February 21 2025
Picture: Roseberys
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
Amusing news that a drawing by George Romney, that was discovered in a wheelie bin in upstate New York, is going to be featured within an upcoming sale at Roseberys. The drawing is said to depict Henrietta Greville, 2nd Countess of Warwick.*
According to the article linked above:
The collector, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "When I first found it buried in the wheelie bin it looked interesting but I had no idea it was nearly 300 years old.
"After taking it home and doing some research I couldn't believe it. How did this mid-18th century drawing from England end up in the trash in upstate New York?"
The drawing will be offered for sale on 12th March 2025 carrying an estimate of £600 - £800.
_________
* - As it happens, the Earls and Countesses of Warwick are one of my pet subjects. The identification comes from what appears to be a much later inscription on the mount and is curious since the work does in no way resemble Romney's portrait of the Countess and her children (now in the Frick) or a lost portrait of her that was engraved. Was the identification made at some point in the 20th century by someone who had knowledge of the Frick collection painting, which happened to have been acquired in 1908? A mystery.
SMK acquires Clara Peeters from Koller sale
February 19 2025
Picture: Koller
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
I'm a little slow to news that the National Gallery of Denmark (SMK) has announced its aquisition of Clara Peeters' Bird Still Life which appeared at Koller in Zurich at the end of last year and made a respectable 622,000 CHF (inc. premium) over its 300k - 500k CHF estimate. The picture is now the earliest dated painting by a woman artist in the SMK collection.
Rosalba Carriera Pastel Soars!
February 19 2025
Picture: Drouot
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The following pastel by Rosalba Carriera, a rather beautiful example of its kind which was given by the artist to the celebrated collector Jean de Jullienne in 1721, soared to 78,000 EUR over its 8k - 12k EUR estimate at Baratoux-Dubourg Enchères in Bourdeaux this afternoon (spotted via. @neiljeffares).
Sotheby's New York Results
February 7 2025
Picture: Sotheby's
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
Yesterday's Sotheby's New York Master Paintings Part I sale realised $27,528,000 with a sell-through rate of 59.2% / 50.9% including withdrawn lots.
Several pictures soared past their estimates, including Pieter Brueghel the Younger's Nest Robber which achieved $3m over its $1.2m - $1.8m estimate, Cornelis de Vos' Portrait of a Young Girl which made $2,040,000 over its $600k -$800k estimate, a Tintoretto portrait which achieved $2,160,000 over its $800k - $1.2m estimate, a Workshop of Botticelli tondo which made $660,000 over its $100k - $150k estimate and a Bay Cob by Stubbs which made $540,000 over its $150k - $200k estimate.
The Aso O. Tavitian single-owner sales will begin today (featuring many fine Old Masters), so this total is likely to be higher once those are done.
Christie's New York Results
February 6 2025
Picture: Christie's
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
Yesterday's Old Masters auction at Christie's New York realised $24,487,900 (all figures include premiums) with 75% of lots sold / 70% including withdrawn lots.
Several lots managed to soar past their estimates, including Wtewael's Adam and Eve which realised $2,046,500 over its $1m - $1.5m estimate, Van Dyck's Saint Jerome which realised $403,200 over its $100k - $150k estimate, Pieter Brueghel the Younger's Seven Acts of Mercy which realised $1,865,000 over its $700k - $1m estimate, and a portrait of Mary, Duchess of Burgundy, which made $239,400 over its $40k - $60k estimate. Other works by Lucas Cranach the Elder, Van Goyen, Ruisdael and Pieter de Hooch also achieved impressive results.
Here's the latest news from Artnet regarding the withdrawal of the El Greco, which (subject to the outcome of this review) seems like it may be offered by the auction house again in due course.
Christie's New York El Greco Withdrawn?
February 4 2025
Picture: newsweek.ro / Christie's
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
It's very sad news to see that the upcoming Saint Sebastian by El Greco has disappeared from the Christie's website, suggesting that the picture may have been withdrawn from their upcoming New York sale. There had been growing numbers of articles from the Romanian press regarding its provenance and how exactly the picture came to leave the Romanian royal collection. Although many of the press articles had claimed that the Romanian government had succeeded with placing some sort of block on the sale, the painting had continued to be on the auction house's website for some days. More news as and when it breaks.
Colour & Light in Bedford
February 4 2025
Picture: The Higgins Bedford
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The Higgins in Bedford, Bedfordshire, will be opening their latest temporary exhibition in a few days' time dedicated to Colour & Light.
According to their website:
Colour and Light is a captivating new exhibition exploring the fascinating relationship between colour and light in art from the 18th century to the present day.
The exhibition will showcase a dazzling array of works from The Cecil Higgins Art Gallery Collection, including iconic pieces by JMW Turner, John Singer Sargent, Sonia Delaunay, Peter Blake, and Chila Kumari Singh Burman.
The show will run from 15th February until 2nd November 2025.
Christie's New York Old Master & British Drawings
January 15 2025
Picture: Christie's
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
Christie's New York have uploaded their upcoming Old Master & British Drawings sale online. The auction will take place on 4th February 2025 at 10.00am EST.
Amongst the top lots are a rediscovered Turner watercolour of Venice (pictured), a head study of a lady by Jacopo Ligozzi, a Murillo drawing of travellers with donkeys and a rather fine portrait by Sir Thomas Lawrence.
Sleeper Alert!
January 13 2025
Picture: clarkeny.com
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
News on social media (spotted via @mbrehe) that the following picture catalogued as 'FLORENTINE SCHOOL (POSSIBLY 14TH/15TH CENTURY)' sold for $230,000 over its $3k - $5k estimate at Clarke Auctioneers in NY yesterday.
Sotheby's New York Master Paintings Part II
January 10 2025
Picture: Sotheby's
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
Sotheby's New York have published their upcoming Master Paintings Part II sale online. The auction will take place on 6th February 2025 at 14.00 EST.
As usual with these sales, I won't spoil the fun by pointing out way may or may not be interesting.
Musée George Sand acquires Carolus-Duran's Portrait of Émile Aucante
January 10 2025
Picture: Nicolas Nouvelet
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
La Tribune de l'Art has shared news that the Musée George Sand in La Châtre, France, has acquired Carolus-Duran's portrait of the publisher Émile Aucante (1822-1908). The work was pre-empted from Nicolas Nouvelet's auction last October for 5,850 EUR (inc. fees).
According to the auctioneer's catalogue note:
Émile Aucante was a publisher and journalist, godson and close collaborator of George Sand. He began his career as a fervent disciple of the theoretician Pierre Leroux, for whom he contributed to the Revue Sociale. Condemned to exile during the coup d'état of 1851, he was called by George Sand, who made him her secretary in Nohant, inheriting all her manuscripts and papers. He then negotiated all publications with publishers on her behalf. In 1858, following Orsini's attempt on the life of Emperor Napoleon III, Émile Aucante was arrested once again. Our painting shows him at the age of 38, in his period as a political opponent of the Second Empire. Under the Third Republic, he developed his publishing activities, directing L'Univers Illustré and then several collections at Calmann-Lévy, alongside his printing business.
George Washington's pastel makes $317,500
January 9 2025
Picture: maineantiquedigest.com
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
I'm very late to this rather fascinating story (spotted via @MaryMWalsh) that a unattributed pastel of St John the Evangelist realised $317,500 at the The Potomack Company auctioneers in Alexandria, Virginia, last October. This enormous sum is explained by the fact that the artwork had documented provenance back to its original owners George and Martha Washington and had descended with members of the family. Even if we forget that the estimate was $250,000 - $500,000, this is still quite a price! Click on the link to read more.
Sotheby's New York Master Paintings Part I
January 8 2025
Picture: Sotheby's
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
The Sotheby's New York Master Paintings Part I sale has been uploaded online. The auction will take place on 6th February 2025 at 10.00 EST.
Amongst the top lots are a Rubens sketch of the Annunciation at $4m - $6m, a hairy Saint Mary Magdalene by Raphael at $2m - $3m, a portrait of a noblewoman by Bernardino de Conte at $2m - $3m, a Nest Robber by Pieter Brueghel the Younger at $1.2m - $1.8m, and a crucifixion by Jacob Cornelisz. van Oostsanen at $1.2m - $1.8m. Being musically minded though, my favourite is this Cornelis de Vos portrait showing a young girl playing the virginal, estimated at $600k - $800k (pictured).
It is also worth drawing attention to the Aso O. Tavitian single-owner sales, which contain a selection of fine selection of Old Masters from various centuries and national schools, the top lots being a portrait of Margaret of Austria at $1.5m - $2m and a Mary Magdalene by Ambrosius Benson at $600k - $800k.
Sotheby's New York Drawings Online
January 3 2025
Picture: Sotheby's
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
Whilst we're waiting for the upcoming Sotheby's New York Old Master Paintings sales to be published, here's the upcoming Master Works on Paper from Five Centuries auction. The sale will take place on 5th February 2025 at 11.00 EST.
Top lots include this fine study of heads by an artist in the Circle of Gerard David (pictured), a marine drawing by Caspar David Friedrich, a Swiss watercolour by JMW Turner and a mythological drawing by Claude Lorrain.
Christie's New York Sale
December 21 2024
Picture: Christie's
Posted by Adam Busiakiewicz:
Christie's New York have uploaded their upcoming Old Masters sale online. The auction will take place on 5th February at 10am EST.
Amongst the top lots are the aforementioned El Greco of Saint Sebastian estimated at $7m - $9m. The painting already has a third-party guarantee, meaning the work is technically already sold. Other notable works are a fine Pieter de Hooch interior at $2.5m - $3.5m, a portrait of a gentleman, possibly Dirck Dircksz Tjarck, by Frans Hals at $2m - $3m, and a Cranach the Elder of Hercules and Omphale at $1m - $2m. My favourite picture of the bunch is this musical Michael Sweerts, an artist who appears in most evening sales these days, which carries an estimate of $700k - $1m. There are also a selection of paintings being sold by the Museum of Fine Arts Boston (to fund future acquisitions), more of which can be read in this article.
