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.


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Old Master specialist hosts seminar on the art of connoisseurship

11 January 2020

An Old Master specialist previously at Sotheby’s is hosting a seminar on connoisseurship and its role in the art world at Olympia Auctions in west London later this month.

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Regent’s treat: Rediscovered Prince of Wales portrait sold for €325,000

06 January 2020

This rediscovered drawing of the future George IV (1762-1830) is believed to have been owned by his true love Maria Fitzherbert (1756-1837).

Sense of Taste by Michael Sweerts

Senses and sensibility – Trio of Michael Sweerts portraits emerge over two months

06 January 2020

Several portraits by the 17th century Flemish artist Michael Sweerts (1618-64) have been achieving six-figure sums at auctions in Europe recently.

‘The mocking of Christ’ by Cimabue

France blocks export of €19.5m Cimabue panel following sale to overseas buyer

03 January 2020

The French government has blocked the export of ‘The mocking of Christ’, a medieval panel by Cenni di Pepo (known as Cimabue) that sold in October for €19.5m plus premium at auction house Actéon.

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Government issues export bar for £8m Gainsborough landscape in hope of finding UK buyer

02 January 2020

The owner of a Thomas Gainsborough (1727-88) painting has been temporarily prevented from exporting the picture by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).

‘The mocking of Christ’ by Cimabue

Six top Old Masters sold at auction in 2019

30 December 2019

This year has seen some notable action in the Old Master market including some major rediscoveries which led to some extraordinary bidding at auction. Here ATG picks out six highlights sold across 2019.

Hals

Sotheby’s wins court case over a disputed €10m ‘Frans Hals’ painting

11 December 2019

Auction house Sotheby’s has won its case against Fairlight Art Ventures, the former business partner of Old Master picture dealer Mark Weiss, over a Frans Hals (1582-1666) painting that the auction house now deems is a fake.

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Old Master’s new look: Met Museum pays €5m after X-ray reveals the original work

09 December 2019

In the third multi-million-pound sale this year of a rediscovered Old Master at a provincial French auction house, a late Gothic panel offered at Cortot & Associés of Dijon brought a dramatic competition late last month.

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Miracles of Saint Clare lift Old Masters series

09 December 2019

Two recently restituted panels by Sienese artist Giovanni di Paolo (c.1399-1482) lifted the latest series of Old Master auctions in London.

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Warm reception for Mengs and Cantagalli on London’s winter stage

09 December 2019

An autograph painting by German artist Anton Raphael Mengs (1728-79) was one of the stand-out sales during London Art Week (LAW).

Painting by The Master of Vissi Brod

Major Old Master sale in France as New York’s Metropolitan Museum buys late-Gothic painting for €5m

05 December 2019

An Old Master painting by a mid-14th century painter who was active in Bohemia drew dramatic competition at a small auction house in France last week. It was knocked down at €5m (£4.27m) to a dealer acting for the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

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Portrait by talented Rembrandt pupil gives boost to Old Masters sales in Germany

02 December 2019

Pictured here is a selection of notable Old Master results from recent sales in Cologne and Munich where international bidders battled with German dealers and collectors.

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More accessible options at Paris Old Master sales

02 December 2019

Plenty of opportunities were available to purchase Old Master or 19th century works for more affordable prices across Paris last month. Pictured here are three works from recent auctions.

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Works by followers and pupils of Leonardo da Vinci highlight French Old Master sales

02 December 2019

Old Masters are much to the fore in the calendar across Europe at this time in the auction season.

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Flemish artist provides Drouot with winning touch

02 December 2019

The Bordoni and the Luini were not the only strong results achieved in the Drouot auction centre in the November sales.

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5 Questions: Peter Harrison and Simon van Oostende

25 November 2019

Peter Harrison and Simon van Oostende met during a Christie’s Education course in London and in June 2019 launched Harrison & van Oostende specialising in 16th-18th century works of art.

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Previews: £30,000 plus

25 November 2019

Our weekly selection from salerooms.

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Artemisia Gentileschi’s Lucretia takes record in Paris auction

18 November 2019

Artemisia Gentileschi’s painting 'Lucretia', which was in a private collection for more than 40 years, has made a new record for the artist at an auction in Paris.

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5 Questions: Carlo Milano of Callisto Fine Arts

18 November 2019

Carlo Milano runs Callisto Fine Arts, where he deals in Renaissance and Baroque works of art. He is among the participants in London Art Week (December 1-6).

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Dorotheum saleroom’s seven heaven

18 November 2019

Dorotheum (28/25/22/18% buyer’s premium) in Vienna could boast two seven-figure prices in as many days, including the highest Austrian auction price of this year so far.

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