Sotheby's sold three illuminated manuscripts included in a sale of Old Masters paintings held on July 5th 2000 for a total of £ 7 million (US $ 10,5 million). The « Monnypenny » breviary, made circa 1490 and bought for £ 1,87 by Paris dealer Pierre Bérès at Sotheby's in 1989, fetched a record £ 3,3 million (US $ 4,95 million) while two other manuscripts acquired by the latter that same year - £ 748,000
($ 1,122,000) and 2 800 000 FF ($ 400,000)- respectively the « Boisrouvray Psalter » and a Book of Hours according to the rite of Saint Ambrose.
Such results prove that there are more amateurs for rare manuscripts on the market than one may believe.
The sale of paintings lost part of its interest when its main piece, Cimabue's Madonna with the Christ child, estimated at about £ 10 million, was sold privately to the London National gallery.
Still, El Greco's Christ on the Cross went for a record £ 3,85 million
(US $ 5,775,000) in favour of the Getty Museum.
Meanwhile Orazio Gentileschi's « Holy Family » reached its top pre-sale estimate fetching £ 2,42 million ($ 3,630,000), a still life of flowers by Ambrosius Bosschaert the Elder sold for a record £ 1,92 million ($ 2,880,000) and a young woman by Lucas Cranach the Elder, sold in 1988 for $ 748,000 at Sotheby's in New York and in 1992 for £ 460,000 ($ 690,000) at Christie's in London, went for £ 1,26 million
($ 1,890,000).
Phillips fared well on their part with a stunning £ 2,42 million ($ 3,630,000) bid for an 18th Century painting by French artist Jean-François de Troy, « Returning from the Ball ». This work was recently rediscovered after it had been thought lost since 1769 while its pendant is hanging at the Getty Museum.
Overall, the demand has been strong for high quality paintings by old masters throughout the first half year of 2000.
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