Old Masters

Traditionally this sector is defined as works by master painters working in Europe from before 1800. It includes Renaissance artists and Dutch Golden Age painters for example. Today Old Master auctions in London and New York will include works by British artists as well as some 19th century works.


Botticelli's Virgin

UK buyer sought for £10m Botticelli Virgin and Child

13 May 2025

A temporary export bar has been placed on a painting of the Virgin Mary by Sandro Botticelli valued at £10.2m.

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De Ribera work emerges from rural Swedish shed

12 May 2025

Stockholms Auktionsverk believes it has discovered a previously unknown oil by Spanish Baroque artist Jusepe de Ribera (1591-1652).

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Albrecht Dürer: The printmaker supreme

12 May 2025

An artist in high demand in his day, Dürer prints still fascinate collectors. ATG surveys the market for works by great Old Master draughtsman

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Interview: Dürer prints represent 'one of the biggest achievements in art history'

12 May 2025

ATG speaks to Astrid-Christina Schierz, specialist in Master Drawings, Prints before 1900, Watercolours, Miniatures at Austrian auction house Dorotheum.

Canaletto Venice Ascension Day

Canaletto once owned by Robert Walpole headlines Christie’s Old Master sale

08 May 2025

One of Canaletto’s ‘prime-period’ views of Venice which once hung in 10 Downing Street has emerged at Christie’s.

The Virgin and Child altarpiece

National Gallery buys ‘mystery’ altarpiece in £16.4m deal brokered by Sotheby’s

06 May 2025

The National Gallery in London has acquired two Old Masters, one of which is a remarkable 16th-century altarpiece bought for £16.4m in a private treaty sale brokered by Sotheby’s.

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Trompe l’oeil painting reveals hint of a Medici connection

05 May 2025

Painting of a cabinet includes letter fixed to the door with possible mention of Grand Duke Cosimo III

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Bosschaert rediscovery blooms in the saleroom

05 May 2025

A floral still-life by Ambrosius Bosschaert the Elder, discovered only recently in a European private collection, was one of the stars at a recent sale at Koller (25/22% buyer’s premium) in Zurich.

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Seton was championed by Scottish clients in Calcutta

05 May 2025

The top price of the recent sale of the Philip Astley-Jones collection came for a portrait with a strong Indian connection.

Fernando Llanos drawing

Salvator Mundi drawing from Leonardo’s studio makes five times estimate

01 May 2025

An unfinished drawing of the Salvator Mundi attributed to Leonardo da Vinci's workshop drew strong competition at Dorotheum of Vienna this week.

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Wright of Derby self-portrait is among five lots to watch

28 April 2025

With estimates from £2000, here are five previews of items coming up at auction this week

Christ Carrying the Cross by Luis de Morales

Dealer Daniel Katz sells Spanish Old Master to Getty Museum

23 April 2025

The J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles has bought a 16th-century painting by Spanish Renaissance painter Luis de Morales (1509-86).

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Lievens’ version of Susanna bathing surfaces at Cologne saleroom

21 April 2025

The biblical story of Susanna and the Elders, also known as Susanna Bathing, has inspired artists throughout the centuries, among them Jan Lievens who painted this version in c.1630.

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Child prodigy Mendelssohn on song in saleroom

14 April 2025

String of portraits offered by south London auction house included sketch of the 12-year-old musical prodigy

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Print purchaser was active in ‘Golden Age’ of collecting

14 April 2025

Swedish civil engineer and army officer with great understanding bought the best impressions available

Saint Agnes by Segna di Bonaventura

Sienese gold ground paintings spotlighted in Christie’s private sales exhibition

11 April 2025

Christie’s private sales department is holding a selling exhibition titled Siena and the Renaissance.

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British bidder brings Lady Bridget from US collection back to the UK

31 March 2025

This early 18th century portrait by Thomas Gibson (1680-1751) shows Lady Bridget Poulett (1702-73) in her prime.

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Heads up for overseas bidders active at Oxford auction

31 March 2025

Two very different works offered in Oxford now have new owners from Australia and continental Europe

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Spoilum alerts for two portraits

31 March 2025

A work catalogued as “an 18th-century French School portrait of a gentleman” went for Can$32,000 (£17,180) at a Montreal sale, well above its broad guide of Can$1000-2000.

Henry Gibbs’ Aeneas and his Family Fleeing Burning Troy

Nazi-looted painting in Tate’s collection returned to heirs after eight decades

29 March 2025

A painting by British artist Henry Gibbs (1630/1–1713) purchased by Tate in 1994 has been returned to the heirs of Belgian Jewish art collector Samuel Hartveld following a decision by the Spoliation Advisory Panel.

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