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.


The Banks Diamond

Mountbatten family collection raises £5.6m at Sotheby’s

05 April 2021

Sotheby’s reported 1400 bidders from 55 countries participating in the auction of the collection of Patricia Knatchbull, 2nd Countess Mountbatten of Burma (1924-2017).

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Artists uncertain but appeal clear to bidders

05 April 2021

Portraits boosted takings at Mallams’ (24% buyer’s premium) latest picture sale in Oxford.

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Philosopher painting rated as a rediscovered Fragonard

05 April 2021

A painting by the French 18th century artist Jean-Honoré Fragonard (1732-1806) was discovered last January hanging on the wall in a local home.

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Maria van Oosterwyck still life brings major international bidding in France

05 April 2021

Woman excluded from the guild of artists was nevertheless highly rated by kings and emperor

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Interview: Taking stock at Tomasso

05 April 2021

One year into lockdown and ahead of a select Sotheby’s sale of sculpture and bronzes, Dino Tomasso tells ATG how having the time to reflect has forged a new path – and name – for Tomasso Brothers Fine Art

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Bernini drawing sets auction record

29 March 2021

An Old Master drawing by the Italian Baroque sculptor, architect and artist Gian Lorenzo Bernini (1598-1680) sold for a hammer price of €1.55m (£1.34m) at an auction in Compiègne in France.

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Still life by Dutch golden age female artist emerges in French auction

22 March 2021

This elaborate still-life featuring a vase containing a rich variety of flowers including roses, peonies and tulips, is a work by Maria van Oosterwyck (1630-93), a 17th century Dutch golden age female artist who specialised in still-life subjects.

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William Hazlitt portrayed at his ‘great hope’ stage

15 March 2021

This rediscovered portrait depicts a youthful-looking William Hazlitt (1778-1830).

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William James joins the 'fifty' line-up at Richard Green

08 March 2021

Little is known about the life of British artist William James (f.1754-71) other than he painted topographical views and may have been one of Canaletto’s studio assistants while the Venetian was visiting England.

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Vigée-Lebrun returns from exile

01 March 2021

Marie Louise Elisabeth Vigée-Lebrun (1755-1842) was one of the most prolific painters of her era, creating up to 1000 works of art, the majority of them portraits.

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5 Questions: Old Master and British art dealer Lawrence Steigrad

15 February 2021

Lawrence Steigrad deals in Old Master and British paintings, drawings, and sculpture

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Old Masters star in first flurry of French auctions

15 February 2021

January proves to be a busy month in France including 37 sales at the Drouot in a fortnight

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Cooper Henderson: years of coaching pay off

15 February 2021

Typical Charles Cooper Henderson coach scene rolls into Cheffins' saleroom

Richard L Feigen

‘A great connoisseur of art’ – Richard L Feigen (1930-2021)

08 February 2021

The US art dealer Richard L Feigen has died at the age of 90. A notice in the New York Times stated he ‘died peacefully in his sleep after a brief illness with Covid-19 pneumonia’.

Richard L Feigen

Obituary: Richard L Feigen 1930-2021

08 February 2021

It is with profound sadness that we write to you about the passing of our founder and chairman, Richard L Feigen.

Young Man Holding a Roundel’ by Sandro Botticelli

Sandro Botticelli portrait takes $80m at Sotheby’s Old Master auction in New York

28 January 2021

A portrait by Sandro Botticelli (c.1445-1510) sold for $80m (£58.4m) at Sotheby’s in New York today. With fees the price was $92.2m.

Mary Beale portrait of her son Bartholomew

Mother’s portrait of her son proves £100,000 sleeper at Colchester sale

28 January 2021

A portrait of a young boy in profile drew spectacular bidding at the latest sale held by Reeman Dansie (20% buyer’s premium) of Colchester.

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Allan Ramsay portrait deemed ‘a Rolls-Royce of a painting’

25 January 2021

A rediscovered historical portrait by a major name can give a boost to any sale.

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German and Austrian sales: freshness counts in Old Master sector

25 January 2021

In a market challenged by a lack of fresh consignments, works new to the saleroom stand out

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Marie Antoinette portrait appears at Skinner

18 January 2021

This large 19th century portrait of Marie Antoinette and her children from the studio of the French artist Elisabeth Louise Vigée le Brun (1755-1842) is one of the highlights of Skinner’s Fine Paintings and Sculpture sale in Marlborough, Massachusetts, on January 22.

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