The tender works of Old Masters, and Sotheby's Christie's
ARTinvestment.RU   27 января 2009

In late January, collectors have an opportunity to buy a wonderful picture of Turner, Goya, Titian, Quentin Masseysa and other artists

outstanding works of old masters at all times been in a price . What speaks louder about the status of a collector than the picture of Turner (J. M. W. Turner) and Rubens (Peter Paul Rubens) on the wall? .. During the art boom in prices for the work of Old Masters (European artists, to create up to XIX century) rose, but not very much, because speculation in the market is not active, such as the market works by contemporary artists. In this hard to believe, but often canvas painting of titans such as Pieter Bruegel, Jr. (Peter Brueghel the Younger), are sold cheaper than the picture of a modern Prince, Richard (Richard Prince). Now, Submit a new economic spirit, auction houses reduce estimeyty. Therefore, collectors opens a great opportunity for the commission of the bargain. There is little doubt that the works of old masters are highly quoted and through fifty and a hundred years. According to specialists ARTinvestment.RU indices ARTIMX , the market of old masters for the last 8 years shows a fairly smooth and stable growth. By the end of last year, the price index ARTIMX Old Masters more than 3 000 items (reflecting the three price growth since 2001). And if you look at price momentum alone last year, the growth index was about 30 percent - an impressive figure against the backdrop of many other «Storm» markets. Some fear caused an annual index of purchasing activity ARTIMXba Old Masters: it declined until the end of October 2008. But then there is a fracture and the curve went up sharply. For example, if the index of purchasing activity at the end of October last year was about 55 basis points, then by early 2009, close to 60 points. To market the old masters is a good sign. Increased buying activity, the number of transactions is usually a harbinger of growth in average prices and investment returns. So the prospects for the upcoming bidding good.

The main problem of the old masters of the market is that seldom appear at auctions of the museum's masterpieces. Creation is the major artists of some eras, such as the late Gothic and early Renaissance, almost never appearing at public auction: they are no longer available to museums and prominent private collections whose owners do not express any willingness to part with them. That's why the bidding is often exhibited paintings, the authorship of which is indicated in the directories as «workshop Botticelli», «after Leonardo da Vinci», «Jean Fouque circle», etc. And if the auction and there are works of great artists, it is usually is «strong serednyachki», which are not very expensive. So people have the opportunity to buy good old canvas at an affordable price.

Many works of old masters were sold and resold at many times, some - for centuries. And so, when the auctions do not appear previously exhibited paintings for auction, so even the highest class, formed from excitement. Remember, a furor in December Christie's made the «Flora» Tiepolo (Giovanni Battista Tiepolo), found in the attic a French Chateau . The film received estimeyt 700-900 thousand pounds, and went for 2.8 million! Such work - present «blue chips». Rare cases where one auction exhibited several of these canvases. But, as mentioned above, he who buy even the most brilliant work of the great master, in any case not lose - the names of artists whose works are sold in this market, has long been defined once and for all. Art collectors are the future, possibly will not know who Damien Hurst (Damien Hirst), but the picture of Turner, Frans Hals (Frans Hals), Goya (Francisco de Goya) and other famous authors, they will sell and buy as much as and today's collectors.

This week in New York will auction the major works of Old Masters Christie's and Sotheby's . In their catalogs, we can see some of this «star» of lots, as well as a lot of good work.

at Christie's auction on 28 January exhibited 213 works estimeyty most of them do not exceed 100 thousand dollars. For the price of 30-50 thousand to buy picture of the late Renaissance master Tintoretto (Tintoretto), but for 25-35 thousand - canvas distinguished Dutch painter Pieter de Hoha (Pieter de Hooch). The most expensive is a lot, which is composed of twelve paintings of Francisco de Surbarana (Francisco de Zurbarán) c Sivilla image. The paintings are estimated at 2-3 million. The great Spanish artist created this work together with students and, therefore, written by experts as the auction house, the quality of art here is not as perfect as the scenes that Surbaran wrote one. Nevertheless, the emergence of works by this artist on such a large auction was a major event: Surbarana paintings exhibited at the public auction rare and mostly in Spanish auctions.

Another bright lead - Watercolor «View to pass Brunig of Meiringen, Switzerland», written by J. M. W. Turner. It was expected that this kind of gore in the haze almost impressionisticheskoy be 1,5-2,5 million dollars. Total auction exhibited five watercolors Turner, but «View to pass Brunig ...» more highly valued. The works come from the collection of William and Eleanor Wood Prince (William & Eleanor Wood Prince) of Chicago. In 2006, Turner's painting «Dzhudekka, La Donna cases Salute and San Giorgio» from the same collection brought to the auction Christie's 35,8 million dollars, becoming the most expensive paintings of those that have ever been sold at an auction of old Masters in New York.

Big estimeyt also received a still life of Jean-Baptiste Simeon Chardin (Jean-Baptiste Siméon Chardin), entitled «Still life with copper pot, jug, fish glass, two nuts and onion». This painting is valuable because it is one of the earliest works Chardin, which he depicted utensils, - after he was famous for its «kitchen still life». Cloth estimated at 1,2-1,8 million. Estimeyt very brave, considering that none of the paintings of Chardin, exposed for sale in the previous two years, did not find a buyer. Million mark prices on the work of the artist broke only twice, both in 1992: canvas «Dog Breed Spaniel» was sold for 1.5 million dollars and the picture «Still life with a glass mug, three walnuts and peaches basket» left over 2 million.

The next day, held an auction of old masters and graphic artists of the XIX century, the top lot is an excellent «Portrait of a Lady in Turkish attire, allegedly Laura Tarsus» Jean-Etienne Liotara (Jean-Étienne Liotard), estimated at 80 -120 thousand dollars. «Eastern» issue has a special place in the works of Swiss painter, for several years resided in Constantinople and received the nickname of «Turkish artist». In addition to the work Liotara on auction display graphic works of Luca Giordano (Luca Giordano), Jean-Antoine Watteau (Jean-Antoine Watteau), François Boucher (François Boucher), Jean-Francois Millet (Jean-François Millet), and other artists.

Do not forget about selling the collection Julius Held (Julius Held), which will be held on 27 and 30 January . Held was one of the world's most authoritative experts on the art of Rubens. He collected not only the works of old masters, but also works of the XIX century, and modernists. Much of his collection is in the National Gallery of Art in Washington. On the sale of works from his collection, arranged by Christie's, will be presented in the schedule. Some pictures have the signature of famous masters - Rembrandt (Rembrandt), Luke Leiden (LucasvanLeyden), Gustave Dore (Gustave Doré). The most notable is the grotesque fathomable «Allegory of madness» Brushes Great Northern Renaissance masters, the author of «ugly Duchess» and «Menyaly with his wife» Masseysa Quentin (Quentin Massys). Work valued at 300-500 thousand dollars. Pictures Masseysa appear at auction extremely rare - in the late 1980's total of five times. The current record for his work - 1.3 million dollars.

January 28, a graphic will hold an auction Sotheby's . Its top lot was a Goya drawing entitled «A hunter with a dog on a background landscape», estimated at 600-800 thousand dollars. Estimeyty remaining products is much lower. At the tender can be purchased remarkable drawings by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, Giovanni Battista Piranesi (Giovanni Battista Piranesi) and Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres (Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres).

Large old master paintings auction Sotheby's held in three phases: two auction will be held on 29 January, another - on 30 January . Unlike Christie's, auction house, this represents several multimillion-dollar lots, blockbusters, chief of which - «The Temple of Jupiter Panellinskogo» J. M. W. Turner. This is a great canvas estimated at 12-16 million dollars. The work comes from the collection of art dealer Richard Feige (Richard Feigen), where it was more than 25 years. Sotheby'skrupno lucky: paintings by Turner, moreover, and this level can be seen at the auctions are very rare. Since 1989, at public auction there were only 19 canvases by the English painter, while the graphic works have been exhibited more than 300. In addition, the «Temple of Jupiter Panellinskogo» very rare story: Turner painting «Greek topic» aware of all three.

The other outstanding lots include paintings Titian (Titian), Francisco de Goya (Francisco de Goya) and Frans Hals (Frans Hals). Titian painting «Salome with the head of John the Baptist» estimated at 4-6 million dollars. Here, as in many other paintings of the wizard, shown sensual woman. The work comes from the collections of the British royal family. The current record for the works of Titian is 4 million dollars. At the auction on January 29 exhibited another painting by this artist, «Portrait of Admiral allegedly Francesco International», which auction house experts assessed 1,5-2 million dollars. In 1997, the painting was sold by Sotheby'sza 2 million.

At the Frans Hals paintings «Portrait of a man with gloves» and «Portrait of a woman with a scarf», included in one lot (15-20 million dollars), depicts a husband and wife. The works were created when the artist was in the prime creative force. The current record for the works of Hals (in dollars) has been installed this summer, when «Portrait Willem Heytheysena sitting on a stool with a hunting-whip in his hand »went to Sotheby's auction for 13.9 million dollars (sale price without a commission made up 12.4 million dollars). Sotheby's ambitious: an upper estimeyt« Portrait Men »is 12 million dollars.

Cloth Goya «Portrait of Prince Alois von Václav Kaunits-Ritberga» (2,5-3,5 million dollars) had been long unknown to experts who study creativity of the artist. In 1989, the painting «surfaced» for selling a private collection when it noticed the scientists who found that its author was indeed a Goya. Last year, curators of the Museum Madrid Prado incorporated in big exhibition of the artist's works, written in military theme . Unlike many other old masters, Goya at auctions - a frequent visitor. True, most are sold at public auction of his prints. If the portrait of Prince von Kaunits-Ritberga be sold within estimeyta, he enters one of the most expensive works of the artist. Record has a picture «Corrida. First Terzi », which was sold in 1992 for 7.2 million dollars.

cover auction catalog of reproductions of paintings graced the less famous than the Goya and Titian, but it's very interesting artist Terbryuggena Hendrick (Hendrick Ter Brugghen, 1588-1629), who lived and worked in the Netherlands. His work is influenced paintings of great artists such as Hals, Rembrandt, Rubens and Jan Vermeer (Jan Vermeer). The work, which appears in the Sotheby's, called the «piper». Specialists of the auction house had a preliminary assessment of 4-6 million dollars. Interestingly, the current owner has received a sheet of restitution. Before the Second World War it was owned by German industrialists Herbert von Klemperer (Herbert von Klemperer), which in 1938 was forced to put it on sale. The picture was bought Cologne Museum Wallraf-Richartz, in which she was almost 70 years. In July last year it won the heirs of von Klemperer, they now sell it.

In addition to lots-blockbusters, Sotheby's will present another set of not very expensive pieces estimeyt which does not exceed 50 thousand. A January 31, the auction house suits «budget» auction of works by old masters and artists of XIX Century , which for 10-15 thousand dollars will buy a very decent picture, written by the followers of Raphael (Raphael), Goya, Titian, Jean-Baptiste Dreams (Jean-Baptiste Greuze) and other famous authors. In addition, the auction will be presented to the paintings and graphics by Russian artists - Konstantin Konstantin Makovsky , Apollinary Vasnetsov , Nicholas Dubovskoy and others.

Material prepared Yulia Maksimova

Sources: christies.com , sothebys.com , artprice.com , artnet.com , artinvestment.ru