The sale of the collection of Old Masters paintings and works of art assembled by Sir Julius Wernher (1850-1912) and his heirs recorded a £ 20,1 million (US $ 30,1 million) turnover doubling its pre-sale estimate at Christie's on July 5th 2000 in London. The portrait of Giacomo Doria painted by Titian around 1531 fetched £ 2,423,750 (US 3,635,625) while a 26.6 x 57.2 cm study painted by Rubens for «Diana and her Nymphs», a painting destined to King Philip IV of Spain, went for £ 3,08 million (US $ 4,620,000), three times its pre-sale estimate.
Meanwhile, a painting by 17th Century Dutch painter Isaac Van Ostade, titled «Peasants drinking in front of an inn» surprisingly sold for £ 1,08 million (US $ 1,620,000).
Filippino Lippi's «The rest during the flight into Egypt» went for a record £ 663,750 (US $ 995,625) while a bronze by Pietro Francavilla, «Saturn devouring his children», a piece that had been offered to King Louis XIV by Le Nôtre, who created French gardens, went for £ 1,1 million (US $ 1,650,000) to an American dealer.
A Louis XVI secretaire furniture by Riesener and Oeben fetched £ 1,21 million (US $ 1,815,000) while two rare silver reliquary pieces from the end of the 15th Century, one representing Saint Sebastian and the other Saint Christopher respectively went for £ 1,98 million ($ 2,970,000) and £ 1,76 million ($ 2,640,000).
A famous «Aldobrandini» cup similar to that from the Morgan collection, which Christie's sold for $ 231,000 in 1982, went for £ 1 million ($ 1,500,000) despite 19th Century modifications.
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