How long is sometimes summarized in Europe. A monthly art market analysts have compared the results of the June auctions of contemporary art and July - the old masters. The conclusion was simple and quite natural: the old masters did outrun contemporary authors. Bidding Sotheby's and Christie's on 7 and 8 July, on the works of old masters and artists of the XIX century, in the sum of the two auction houses have 39 million pounds, which was more than a million earned in the June auctions of contemporary art.

No one doubts that the purchase of works of Old Masters - a safe investment in times of crisis. This is a mature market, a stable, proven. In addition, although this seems obvious, it is worth remembering that in contrast to modern art to create new works in this sector is no longer possible, the majority of known and cataloged. Of course, from time to time, new discoveries are made that cause a stir among professionals and amateurs. But this happens rarely. The best example of such a «discovery» at the history of auction sales - linen «Childermas» Peter Paul Rubens (Peter Paul Rubens), which is a long time student attribute the artist. Therefore, when the painting was exhibited at Sotheby's in London on 10 July 2002 as the work of Rubens, it estimeyt (4 million pounds) is just ridiculous compared to the final price that was paid for it - 45 million pounds (hereinafter the prices are not Accounting Buyers Premium, and therefore may differ from those in other media site. - Ed. ).

Another good opportunity for investment - the purchase of items from private collections. For example, the success of Sotheby's auction in London on 8 July was related less to the number of submitted works (sold 32 lots, 82 percent go to buyers from Europe), but with high quality works from the collection of Barbara Johnson (Barbara Johnson), wife of the founder of Empire, Johnson & Johnson . At the Sotheby's auction was able to earn 5.36 million pounds more than their competitors from Christie's. This is despite the fact that, at Christie's the previous day was billed for more than 14 lots (the joint efforts of the two auction houses 7 and 8 July, sold 78 of the masterpieces of old masters in the total amount of 38.99 million pounds). Top-lot trades became «Prometheus» Husepe de Ribera (Jusepe de Ribera), which yielded 3.4 million pounds and became the most expensive work of the author. The previous record de Ribera - 2.4 million pounds - was set at Sotheby's as much in 1990 for painting «The Martyrdom of St. Bartholomew». Despite the fact that works of this artist is quite rare (at the public auction, on average, appears about 6 pieces per year), they do not enjoy such wide popularity, since collectors are very demanding in their quality. For example, in 2008, four of the six operations de Ribera were removed from the auction.

Total evening auction at Sotheby's July 8, was found 9 new records. Four of them occurred in the proportion of the collection of Barbara Johnson, which confirms its excellent taste collector. One of them belongs to «Portrait of great men, Jean de Dentevilya presumably, in the image of Saint George», which atributiruetsya Primatichcho Francesco (Francesco Primaticcio). The price for this picture of two times the upper estimeyt and was 650 thousand pounds. It seems that the high quality and reliable provenans have stronger doubts about the authorship. However, there may be another matter, and that the paintings Primatichcho very rare - mostly in auctions only appear sanguine drawings. The last of them exhibited at Sotheby's in New York on 21 January 2003 and has 45 thousand dollars - not so much for the work of this quality.

At the Sotheby's auction in July Significant results have also shown «Bust of the ancient hero» work Bachcho Bandinelli (Baccio Bandinelli), sold for 550 thousand pounds, and the work of Pietro Domenico da Montepulciano (Pietro Domenico da Montepulciano) «Madonna and Child », bidding for which ended at 175 thousand pounds, which is three times higher estimeyta. And for the «Portrait Endimiona Porter» brush Antonis van Dyck (Anronius van Dyck) the buyer was willing to pay 1.8 million pounds.

At the Christie's auction on July 7 was set three new records. Work «Madonna and Child, St. Elizabeth and the infant John the Baptist» Fra Bartolomeo della Porta (Fra Bartolomeo della Porta) went under the hammer for 1.9 million pounds and became the most expensive product of the author. What is not surprising, because this is one of the best works ever put up for public auction. And only a fifth over the past 10 years. Four times higher than the lower estimeyt still life Dutch Willem Klas Hedayat (Willem Claesz Heda), near the buyer for 1.2 million pounds. The third record was the Giuliano di Piero Budzhardini (Giuliano di Piero Bugiardini), whose «Portrait of a young man» has 700 thousand pounds.

Prices for works by old masters in good condition, which is quite rare, usually reach six digits. But the results - only the tip of the iceberg. After all, auction houses constantly offer many less well-known or even unknown authors belonging to different communities and schools. For example, the painting depicting the Holy Family and Saint Anne with the signature Louis Tristan (Luis Tristan) - a talented but little-known student of El Greco (El Greco) - was sold April 22, 2009 for only 42.5 thousand euro. Low-cost (up to 10 thousand dollars) in the sector are invited to quite a lot: 41 percent of lots, trade works of Old Masters in 2008, and 45 percent of lots sold January through July 2009.

Material prepared Onuchin Catherine, AI

Source: artprice.com , sothebys.com , christies . com , artinvestment.ru