Market works of Old Masters has two distinct levels: on one of the hundreds of works by lesser known artists are sold at a price several hundred dollars, and the other Titans are the history of art whose masterpieces selected easily reach the hammer price tens of millions. However, such fundamental works of recognized geniuses rarely appear at auction, and the major auction houses have to work very hard to get hold of them for sale. Christie's and Sotheby's are able to decorate their catalogs auction of Old Masters, held in early July, a number of exceptional works. For these are often the key to the product of his era was played hardball Battle rates.

Scores

at Christie's evening auctions "The Art of the Old Masters," held July 5 in London, the six works went under the hammer million pounds more: this painting "racehorse Dzhimkrek on Nyumarketskoy wasteland with a trainer, jockey and groom," George Stubbs (20 million pounds) *; sketch of male figure back, made by Michelangelo for the fresco "The Battle of Kashin" (2.8 million pounds); seascape brush Simone de Vligera (Simon de Vlieger) «Welcome salute the Dutch frigates" (1.35 million pounds), "Madonna and Child" brush Taddeo Gaddi (1.15 million pounds), "Portrait of Francis Howard" brush Gerardsa Marcus Jr. (1.5 million pounds), and finally, "Portrait of Mrs. William Villebois" by Thomas Gainsborough, who went to a new owner for a record 5.8 million pounds . Another large portrait painted by Gainsborough estimate: 3-5 million pounds was left without buyers.

On similar evening auction at Sotheby's July 6 only three of the hammer price reached more than a million pounds: The new record was set for Francesco Guardi work - its landscape, "Venice. View from the Rialto Bridge Coal quay 'went under the hammer for 23.8 million pounds; painting "Madonna with the Christ child and young John the Baptist", performed by Correggio brought 3.2 million pounds, and for his work "The Assumption of the Virgin" by Hans Leonard Shaufeleyna (Hans Leonhard Schäufelein) the new owner has paid 2.4 million pounds.

George Stubbs racehorse Dzhimkrek on Nyumarketskoy wasteland with a trainer, jockey and groom. 1765 Christie's. 5.07.2011 Result: £ 20 million Source: christies.com

rapid rise of George Stubbs

About the English animal painter George Stubbs, talking loudly back in 2010, after his picture with five horses' mares and foals," was sold for nine million pounds (14.18 million dollars, Sotheby's, December 8th, 2010) - This is the third in a list of the best British artists of the results in 2010. hammer price was a record for himself Stubbs, whose paintings had gone no more than 3 million pounds.

Just six months later, a resounding success pictures with Dzhimkrekom eclipsed the previous record so that the price of 9 million pounds began to seem not too big. July 5 at Christie's image Dzhimkreka - a legendary horse of the XVIII century, winning 28 out of 36 races - went under the hammer twice as much leaf "broodmares and foals": work with an interesting composition solution (Dzhimkrek depicted on it twice in the foreground and background), the new owner bought for 20 million pounds (32.15 million dollars).

Thus, the work of Stubbs the third in top ten most expensive works of Old Masters, second only to the painting "Massacre of the Innocents" by Rubens (45 million pounds, Sotheby's, 10 July 2002) and drawing "Head of the Muse" by Raphael (26 million pounds, Christie's, December 8, 2009).

Francesco Guardi Venice. View from the Rialto Bridge Coal quay. End of 1760 Sotheby's. 06.07.2011 Result: 23.8 million pounds Source: sothebys.com

Records are set to exceed their ...

The final rate on canvas George Stubbs was almost half of the total revenue of the auction Christie's, where 42 lots brought 43.5 million pounds.

The next day, July 6, the time came to sell Sotheby's Old Master paintings. Total revenues of the trading was generally lower than that of Christie's (41,1 million pounds), despite the fact that the lots in the catalog had 30 more.

highlight of the program has become very rare Francesco Guardi painting, even a record pobivshee George Stubbs. Monumental landscape "of Venice. View from Rialto Bridge and the waterfront Coal "has a brilliant provenance outlined in 32 pages in a directory of trades - it's certainly an impressive impact on the estimate of - 15-25 million pounds. The final result of the work confirmed the most optimistic expectations: landscape Guardi, who was in at number 73, brought 23.8 million pounds, with a third row sliding the ranking of most expensive Old Master was settled there by George Stubbs. Previous personal record remained unsurpassed Guardi since 1989, when his landscape "view of the island Giudecca and Venice waterfront Zattere 'went under the hammer for 8.9 million pounds at Sotheby's.

* The prices listed in this article may differ from other materials on the value of AI Buyers Premium.

Prepared by Mary Onuchina, < em> AI

Sources: web.artprice.com , artinvestment.ru