Together with his peers John Singer Sargent and Giovanni Boldini, the Spanish painter Joaquín Sorolla (1863-1923) ushered in a new style of portraiture, capturing the energy of the Belle Epoque through vigorous brushstrokes and luminous palettes. What makes Sorolla's work unique, however, is his own beach obsession and, both at work and at play, the figures who populated it. Painted in 1908, at the height of its international fame, The three brothers on the beach (1908) – cover image – shows a trio of young brothers strolling along the silvery shore of the water. The close cropping of the scene and lack of horizon draws the eye inward, while the reflective wet sand beneath the receding waves is masterfully evoked with brushstrokes of black and purple.
“In everything he does,” noted writer Thomas Ybarra, “Señor Sorolla demonstrates that joyous inner self that finds constant expression in his shimmering, sun-drenched canvases, in the merry beach children of Valencia, Malvarrosa and Jávea.” . The painting was a real record, reaching the clearing price: €2.764.400 (£2.000.000)Price including charges: €3.210.159 Christie's London 15/06/2015
Investment value: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Much loved painter currently on the rise, as shown in the graph. The subject is always important the quality, prefer clear, sunny works with subjects in environments such as the beach.
How much is his work worth? we report works awarded from 2015 to today with scenes dedicated to summer.
El baño. Kids on the beach – Oil/cardboard (13 x 17 cm) Hammer price: €40.000 Price including charges: €48.800 Estimate: €18.000 Old painting and decorative arts 16/06/2021AnsorenaMadrid, Spain.
Children playing in a boat. Boceto para cartel (c.1906) – Oil/cardboard (61,5 x 60 cm) Hammer price: €65.000 Estimate: €65.000 Painting and sculpture 18/05/2021Subastas SegreMadrid, Spain.
Playa de Valencia – Oil/board (8,6 x 13,7 cm) Hammer price: €34.083 ($40.000) Price including charges: €42.944 ($50.400) Estimate: €17.041 – €25.562 ($20.000 – $30.000) 19th Century European Art 13/10/2020Sotheby'sNew York, United States, Signed and Written “A mi amiga / Esperanza Suatto. / J. Sorolla” lower right
Puerto de Guetaria, País Vasco (The Basque Port of Guetaria) (1910) – Oil/canvas (69 x 80 cm). Clearing price: €289.052 (£260.000) Price including charges: €361.315 (£325.000)Estimate: €277.934 – €389.108 (£250.000 – £350.000)19th Century European Paintings 09/07/2019Sotheby'sLondon, United Kingdom. Signed and dated “J Sorolla” lower left.
Chico con sombrero, Jávea (Boy with Sombrero, Jávea) – Oil/canvas (52,5 x 78 cm). Clearing price: €111.196 (£100.000) Price including charges: €138.995 (£125.000) Estimate: €133.435 – €200.152 (£120.000 – £180.000)19th Century European Paintings 12/12/2018Sotheby'sLondon, UK. Signed “J Sorolla Bastida” lower right.
Greek Girls on the Shore (1895) – Oil/canvas (188,5 x 175,5 cm) Hammer price: €653.049 (£570.000) Price including charges: €793.683 (£692.750) Estimate: €801.990 – €1.145.700 (£700.000 – £1.000.000)19th Century European Paintings 06/06/2017Sotheby'sLondon, United Kingdom. Signed and dated “J Sorolla / 1895” lower right.
Bajo los Toldos, San Sebastian (1906) – Oil/cardboard (16 x 22 cm) Hammer price: €179.149 (£155.000) Price including charges: €217.868 (£188.500) Estimate: €46.232 – €69.348 (£40.000 – £60.000)19th Century European, Victorian and British Impressionist Art 28/09/2016 Bonhams London, UK. Signed and dated “J.Sorolla B/1906” lower left.
