Christie's and the representative of the Board of Trustees Belvoir Castle commented on the upcoming sale of "Ordination"

NICOLAS POUSSIN Ordination
Source: reuters.com

In the evening auction Christie's "Old Masters and art of the XIX century", which will be held on 7 December 2010, will feature the masterpiece belonging to one of the most celebrated series of paintings of European art, — "Ordination" by Nicolas Poussin (1594-1665). Painting is offered for sale by decision of the Board of Trustees of Belvoir castle, in the exposition of which it remains to this day. The painting will be on the market for the first time in the last 225 years, and its approximate estimated cost of 15-20 million pounds.

Richard knight, head of the international Department of "Old Masters and art of the XIX century" Christie's:"we are honored to auction a painting by Nicolas Poussin's "Ordination", part of a series of works titled "the Seven sacraments", developed by order of one of the most famous collectors of Rome at the time. At the time of its creation, subject paintings had no iconographic counterparts, and therefore it was highly appreciated by members of the clergy, and monarchs. Poussin, no doubt, is one of the greatest French painters, influenced the development of European art from the XVII century. The influence of his work on other artists cannot be overstated. How to create up to him Titian and his contemporaries Caravaggio and Velazquez, Poussin created his own unique and deeply original style of painting.

Today the market of Old Masters continues to show stable results. Last year we put up for auction works by such recognized masters as Raphael, Rubens and Rembrandt. The appearance on the art-рынке outstanding creations of such famous artists encouraging to collectors from around the world, encouraging them to participate in auctions and hunt for masterpieces of high historical and artistic value. Regarding the upcoming auction, which will take place on 7 December in London and will be exhibited work of Poussin's "Ordination", we expect a high level of interest from both private collectors and museums."

the Representative of the Board of Trustees of Belvoir castle: "After extensive discussions, the Board of Trustees took the difficult decision to put for sale one of the five works included in the series of "Seven sacraments" and in the collection of the family of Retlando. Initially, all seven paintings were bought 4-м Duke of Rutland in 1785, but later "Repentance" was lost in a fire, and "Baptism" was passed in the collection of the National gallery of art in Washington in 1946. The proceeds from the sale of the "Ordination" will be directed at the preservation and restoration of the heritage of Belvoir castle. All of the paintings in the series, exhibited in the castle for many years, and the last seven years, they were exhibited in London's National gallery. We hope that after the successful sale of the "Ordination" of the remaining four paintings will be exhibited in its halls".

Painting by Nicolas Poussin (1594-1665)"Ordination" was written by the artist in 1630-х years as part of the series"Seven sacraments", commissioned by the famous Roman collector of that time, Cassiano del Pozzo, who was also one of the first patrons of the artist. The intent of this series was to demonstrate the life of early Christians in the era of the Caesars, linking them with the realities of papal Rome. Poussin was the first artist, depicting the Church sacraments in a historical manner, paying close attention to detail.

Thanks to the growing popularity of the series of paintings by Poussin was soon invited by cardinal Richelieu in France as first painter at the court of Louis XIII. In Paris, Poussin also has a new patron — influential diplomat Paul Frear de Chantel, ordered the artist to make copies of paintings from the series"Seven sacraments", which are today owned by the family of the Duke Stegenga and exhibited at the exposition of the National gallery of Scotland.

the family Collection of Cassiano del Pozzo soon began to recommend to view all Britons traveling to Italy in the framework of the traditional trip to Europe to finish his education. When sir Robert Walpole tried to buy the canvases of the series "Seven sacraments" for its Assembly, the Pope personally imposed the export ban, which became one of the first precedents of this kind in history. However, under the mediation of James Byers's family-таки managed to take to England and sold to Charles Manners, 4th-му the Duke of Rutland (1754-1787), which for a day was written seven copies, which remained in Italy.

the Duke of Rutland, planning to create a collection that could compete with the collection of sir Walpole, acquired the works of Poussin on the advice of sir Joshua Reynolds, who could see them during your travels in Italy. On arrival in London in 1786 of the "Seven sacraments" caused a real sensation. The desire to see the new acquisition of the Duke expressed himself king George III, and the honor to show them he was awarded the sir Reynolds. The private screening was held at the Royal Academy of arts in 1788.

Source: press-релиз Christie's