Auction of works by old masters Sotheby's had 101.5 million dollars
ARTinvestment.RU   10 июля 2008

The result of the London auction on 9 June by more than ten million pounds higher than the top in terms of expert expectations. Sold paintings by great artists such as Frans Hals, J. M. W. Turner, Tintoretto and Jan Bruegel-Senior

Yesterday at the New Bond Street in London were the works of old masters auction Sotheby's. Auction offered 51 488 650 pounds (101 530 469) dollars, far exceeding the estimeyt, comprising 30,2-44,2 million pounds. Participated in the auction, buyers from all over the world. There have been a personal record prices for works of nineteen artists. Fifty-eight percent of the price went above the upper boundary estimeyta. Two paintings have brought more than five million pounds, four - more than five million dollars, thirteen - more than one million pounds and nineteen - more than one million dollars.

According to Alex Bell (Alex Bell), head of old master works of Sotheby's, this success can be attributed not only to the booming art market, but also a large number of high-quality products at auction. Now the prices of paintings of famous artists of XVI - XIX centuries grow as fast as all the rest. Owners wishing to take advantage of a favorable environment, willingly part with their treasures. Therefore, the concentration of masterpieces, and a very good job at auction is very high. According to Bell, yesterday's auction was the richest in the picture-class for all twenty-two years that he worked at Sotheby's. He also, that purchasing base increasingly «diverse» by nationality. Previously, the majority of bidders were Europeans or Americans, but now there is a rapid increase in the number of buyers from the East.

«star» of auction has become a picture of one of the most famous Dutch painters «Golden Age» Frans Hals (Frans Hals). «Portrait of Willem Heytheysena sitting on a stool with a hunting-whip in his hand», placed on auction with estimeytom 3-5 million pounds, was sold for 7 million pounds (13.9 million dollars). This painting, depicting the merchant of Haarlem - one of the most famous works of Hals in private hands. The portrait took off for second place in the list of the most expensive of the painter.

Another top lot, the picture Mellorda Joseph William Turner (Joseph Mallord William Turner), entitled «Villa Alexander Pope in Tuikenheme» was sold for 5.4 million pounds and took fourth place in the ranking of the most expensive works. This landscape is one of the most important works by the artist. Turner's paintings of this class appear in auctions every generation, and even less frequently. Prior to the sale at Sotheby's 181 year painting are in private collections.

Head of yesterday's personal records were set for works by Flemish artist Jan Bruegel-Senior (Jan Brueghel the Elder). Son of Pieter Bruegel, the senior (Pieter Brueghel the Elder) and the father of Jan Bruegel, Jr. (Jan Brueghel the Younger) said at Sotheby's painting «dancing figure on the bank of the river near the village, with a fish trader and self-painter at the forefront», which went for 3.5 million pounds. These paintings - one of two works by Bruegel, where he painted himself.

Record was also set for works of Dutch painter baroque Aerta van der Neeru (Aert ven der Neer). His «Winter landscape» was sold for 2.7 million pounds.

bitter struggle was over «David and the Queen of Sheba» Lucas Cranach, a senior (Lucas Cranach the Elder) and «Skuptsov» follower of Marinus van Reymersvale (Marinus van Reymerswaele): price first picture (2.1 million pounds ) estimeyt more than 10 times, second (2 million pounds) - 13 times!

great work of late Renaissance painter Jacopo Robusta, better known as Tintoretto (Tintoretto), was also sold for an amount far exceeded estimeyt: «Portrait of bearded old man», pre-evaluated by experts in the 200-300 thousand pounds, was sold for 1.6 million pounds and became the most expensive painting artist.

Julia Maksimova

Sources: www.artdaily.org , artinvestment.ru