Several stunning record bids were made during a sale of Old Master paintings held by Sotheby's on July 10th 2002 in London, which brought £ 67,6 million, the highest ever total for an auction of Old Master works.
A completely unknown painting on panel by Peter-Paul Rubens titled “The Massacre of the Innocents” fetched an incredible price of £ 49, 506, 650 ($ 76,7 million) against a high estimate of £ 6 million but a another work by the same artist representing a portrait of a man as the God Mars only reached £ 4,406,650. Meanwhile, a portrait of a young woman by Rembrandt remained unsold after failing to reach its 10 to 15 million estimate.
Rembrandt's portrait unsold (Sotheby's)
The massacre of the Innocents by Rubens (Sotheby's)
The record price fetched for the Rubens was also a record for an Old Master painting at auction.
Sotheby's head of the Old Master paintings department in London Alex Bell said he was absolutely delighted with such result. The Massacre of the Innocents recently identified by Sotheby's had been misattributed since the first half of the 18th Century.
Bidding for the painting began at £ 3 million and quickly rose to £ 6 million. Then the auctioneer Henry Wyndham, chairman of Sotheby's Europe said:" Now, I'll take £ 12 million!" and bidding increased steadily in million-pound increments with eight bidders entering the fray, five actively competing over £ 25 million. Four of the bidders were in the salesroom and others were bidding on the telephone. The successful bidder was Sam Fogg, a London dealer in Western and Oriental manuscripts who was acting for a private collector.
The sale also set price records, notably for Ambrosius Bosschaert, Il Guercino, Balthasar van der Ast and Gerrit Andriaensz Berckeyde.
Ambrosius Bosschaert the Elder (Sotheby's)
A still life of roses in a Berkemeijer glass vase painted on copper by Ambrosius Bosschaert the Elder (1573-1621) went for a record price of £ 2,096,650.
Another record price of £ 1,216,650 was recorded for a painting by Giovanni Francesco Barbieri called il Guercino (1591-1666) depicting the toilet of Venus.
An oil on canvas from the Antwerp school, circa 1670, showing the interior of a picture gallery fetched £ 358,650 against an estimate of £ 60,000.
The Virgin and Child by the Master of the Magdalene Legend (Sotheby's)
An oil on oak panel representing the Virgin and Child with an apple by the Master of the Magdalene Legend (active in Brussels between 1480 and 1525) went for 311,650 against an estimate of £ 100,000.
Still life by Albrecht Kauw (Sotheby's)
A still life of a young woman sitting with vase of flowers next to a table laden with fruit, vegetables and nuts by Albrecht Kauw (Strasbourg 1616-1681 Berne) was sold for a record price of £ 468,650 against a high estimate of £ 180,000.
Still life by Balthasar van der Ast (Sotheby's)
A still life of roses, irises, tulips, narcissi and other flowers in a glass vase with gilt mounts painted on copper by Balthasar van der Ast (1593/94-1657) sold for £ 941,650.
A muscical company by J.H Bijlert (Sotheby's)
An oil on panel by Jan Hermansz van Bijlert (1597/98-1671) depicting a musical company went for three times its high estimate at £ 215,650.
A concert attributed to Bijlert (Sotheby's)
Another painting executed on canvas and attributed to Bijlert showing a concert (a young man playing a lute and singing with two companions) fetched a surprising £ 556,650 bid against a high estimate of £ 90,000.
A view of the Heerengracht by Berckheyde (Sotheby's)
A view of the Heerengracht from the Vijzelstraat looking towards the Nieuwe Spiegelstraat in Amsterdam painted on oak panel by Gerrit Adriaensz Berckheyde (1638-1698) went for a record £ 611,650 against a high estimate of £ 80,000.
Trompe l'oeil by Edwaert Collier (Sotheby's)
A trompe l'oeil still life of written and printed documents, a printed portrait of Erasmus and an evelope with broken seal, a watch, a comb, pice-nez, a magnifying glass, a key, a seal and stick of sealing wax, a quill pen and other paraphernalia held by strips of ribbon to a framed board painted on canvas by Edwaert Collier reached £ 204,650 against a high estimate of £ 70,000.
"The Annunciation" by Lorenzo di Credi (Sotheby's)
An oil on panel by Lorenzo di Credi (1457-1536?) depicting The Annunciation sold for £ 424,650 against a high estimate of £ 120,000.
"The Adoration of the Magi" by El Greco (Sotheby's)
“The Adoration of the Magi” painted on panel by Doménikos Théotokopoulos called El Greco (1541-1614) went for £ 611,650.
“The Rest on the flight into Egypt” painted on panel by Sisto Badaloccio (1585- after 1620) fetched £ 248,650 against a high estimate of £ 180,000.
“The Madonna and Child” painted on canvas by Giovanni Battista Salvi called Il Sassoferrato (1609-1685) went for £ 111,150 against a £ 60,000 high estimate.
A capriccio of Tivoli, with peasants and animals by the falls painted on canvas by Jan Frans van Bloemen (1662-1749) was sold for £ 149,650 against a £ 60,000 high estimate.
A view of San Giorgio Maggiore in Venice by F. Guardi (Sotheby's)
A view of San Giorgio Maggiore in Venice painted on canvas by Francesco Guardi fetched £ 391,650 against a high estimate of £ 200,000. All the prices recorded during this sale were inclusive of buyers' premiums.
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