The Sotheby's London auction of Old Master & British Paintings achieved the result of €41,272,663 thanks to the participation of buyers from 33 different countries. Sold by lot: 78,7 and Sold by value: 90,7. International bidders competed for El Greco's Saint Dominic in Prayer appearing for the first time on the market. The masterpiece fetched €10,780,735, setting the record for a Spanish Old Master and the highest price achieved at this week's London Old Masters auctions. Last night's auction recorded 8 records.
Some Italian authors present in the catalogue:
Giovanni Baglione – THE DREAM OF SAINT JOSEPH – Lot sold 172.519 EUR
Pietro Fabris – POSILLIPO, A VIEW OF THE COAST TOWARDS VESUVIUS; POZZUOLI, A VIEW OF THE BAY – Lot sold 229.044 EUR
Pietro Fabris – NAPLES, A VIEW OF MERGELLINA AND THE PALAZZO DONN'ANNA BEYOND, WITH FISHERMEN DRAWING THEIR CATCH, PEASANTS GRILLING FISH AND OTHER FIGURES CONVERSING – Lot sold 285.569 EUR
Giovanni Battista Salvi, known as Sassoferrato – MADONNA AND CHILD IN GLORY – Lot sold 455.144 EUR)
Francesco Botticini – THE MADONNA AND CHILD WITH THE INFANT SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST IN A LANDSCAPE – Lot sold 582.326 EUR
Scuola di Giuseppe Arcimboldo – THE FOUR SEASONS: ANTHROPOMORPHIC ALLEGORIES COMPOSED OF FRUITS AND PLANTS – Lot sold 921.476 EUR
Giovanni di Niccolò de Luther known as Dosso Dossi – JUPITER AND SEMELE Lot sold 1.345.413 EUR
and finally…
Giandomenico Tiepolo with the six frescoes:
THE CELEBRATED DEEDS OF THE PORTO FAMILY OF VICENZA:
- JACOPO PORTO APPOINTED GOVERNOR OF VICENZA IN 1022;
- DONATO PORTO APPOINTED TO PATRICIAN OF VENICE IN 1379;
- GEROLAMO PORTO APPOINTED PREFECT OF PIEDMONT IN 1508;
- FRANCESCO PORTO APPOINTED GENERAL OF THE REPUBLIC OF VENICE IN 1554;
- IPPOLITO PORTO COMMENDED BY CHARLES V IN 1572;
- GIOVANNI BATTISTA PORTO APPOINTED COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF IN 1661
Sold lot 3.790.119 EUR (auction record for the artist)
Alex Bell, International Head of the Ancient Painting Department comments: “The international participation in the Ancient Painting auction, with the record for El Greco, is a strong sign of an interest in masterpieces that transcends national borders, in a more contemporary dialogue between New and Antico and gives new energy and strength to our market. The results of the London auction mark a new era in which collectors and new markets have approached Old Painting in renewed ways.”
Mario Tavella, Vice President of Sotheby's Europe and Chair of the Department of Furnishings and Decorative Arts adds: “Just five years ago we would never have thought of achieving such high prices in a Decorative Arts auction as those achieved by the third edition of Treasures. The demand for Treasures – Masterpieces of decorative art – from clocks to furniture and objets d'art – is higher than ever. Participation from Europe and new markets is very active – in theaters, on the phone and online.”
