Old Masters

Traditionally this sector is defined as works by master painters working in Europe from before 1800. It includes Renaissance artists and Dutch Golden Age painters for example. Today Old Master auctions in London and New York will include works by British artists as well as some 19th century works.


L'Automne by Paris Bordone

Ace in the pack as rediscovered Old Master flies to six times estimate

09 October 2024

The latest sale at Aces Gallery in Stamford, Connecticut was topped by the multi-estimate performance of a rediscovered allegorical painting by Venetian artist Paris Bordone (c.1500-71).

Pablopicasso (1881 1973), Carnaval Au Bistrot. Paris, Ete. 1908, Watercolor On Paper, 22.5 X 21 Cm, Courtesy Patrick Bourne Co.

Master Drawings New York announces dates for 2025

08 October 2024

The 19th edition of Master Drawings New York is expected to feature more than 20 exhibitors from New York, London, Paris, Madrid and Brussels

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Desportes chased down at £32,000 in Surrey saleroom

07 October 2024

The French artist Alexandre-François Desportes (1661-1743) spent much of his early career as a portraitist, including a notable spell working at the court of King Jan Sobieski of Poland.

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Bidders scale the smaller heights of the Old Master world

07 October 2024

Sale that featured Constable and Drury big-hitters also included intriguing lots at lower price levels

Thomas Gainsborough Humphrey Tugwell C.1763. Photo Credit Dan Weill

Gainsborough portraits on public display for the first time

05 October 2024

Four Thomas Gainsborough (1727-88) family portraits acquired under the Acceptance in Lieu scheme have gone go on public display for the first time.

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Dealer Dickinson offers ‘early Michelangelo’

30 September 2024

London dealer Dickinson is offering what it says is ‘the one of the most exciting old master discoveries to have been made in recent decades, and is an important addition to the small group of extant drawings by Michelangelo’.

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Pick of the Week: Constable's letter from key patron

23 September 2024

A letter written to John Constable by a key patron formed part of the sale of Old Masters and 19th Century Art at Chiswick Auctions on September 18.

portrait of a man

‘Dutch school’ portrait catches the eye making over 40 times estimate in Ruislip

13 September 2024

With Old Master sleeper spotters trawling through online catalogues looking for works with hidden potential, it’s not unusual for the odd lot to draw an unexpected bidding at sales all over the country.

Bastille sketch

Contemporaneous sketch of the demolished Bastille makes $1.6m at Freeman’s Hindman

10 September 2024

A sketch which was given by the Marquis de Lafayette to the first American president George Washington sold for $1.6m (£1.22m) at an auction in Philadelphia earlier today.

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18th century view of London by Irish female artist flies to over 30 times estimate

09 September 2024

The only known painting of London by an 18th century Irish female artist came for sale in Salisbury earlier this month.

John Constable hampstead

Rediscovered John Constable painting of Hampstead sells for £410,000

04 September 2024

A previously unpublished oil sketch by John Constable provoked fierce bidding at Woolley & Wallis in Salisbury

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Seven-figure bet on ‘Rembrandt’ as portrait becomes the Maine attraction

02 September 2024

The second session of the three-day sale at Thomaston Place Auction Galleries on August 23-25 was dominated by the seven-figure performance of a portrait in the manner of Rembrandt Van Rijn (1606-69).

Lucas Cranach the Elder portrait

Christie’s to sell Cranach portrait after US museum and Jewish heirs make agreement over restitution

30 August 2024

A portrait by Lucas Cranach the Elder (1472-1553) and his workshop which has been in an American museum since the 1960s will be offered at Christie’s New York in January following an agreement between the institution and the heirs of a Jewish collector.

The Adoration of the Magi

Old Master flies to over 60 times estimate after 45 minute bidding battle

22 August 2024

Following a contest involving hundreds of bidding increments, an early Netherlandish panel painting of ‘The Adoration of the Magi’ hammered for $332,000 (£256,000) at an auction in upstate New York this month.

John Constable hampstead

Rediscovered John Constable painting of Hampstead emerges at Salisbury auction

21 August 2024

A previously unpublished oil sketch by John Constable (1776-1837) depicting Hampstead Heath is coming up for auction next month at Woolley & Wallis.

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Mystery lady in green and Madonna rub shoulders

19 August 2024

Appearing at a time of increased market interest in pioneering female artists, a portrait by Elizabeth Cameron Mawson (1849-1939) set a significant new artist’s record at Newcastle saleroom Anderson & Garland (25% buyer’s premium).

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Street view and galleon at sea surface in same south London sale

05 August 2024

In a fortuitous coincidence, two Old Master drawings linked to leading Netherlandish painters emerged in the same auction at Roseberys (26/25/20% buyer’s premium) in south London.

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Future French king portrayed by female painter ‘Madame Tott’

05 August 2024

Born in Constantinople, the daughter of a French nobleman of Hungarian descent, painter Sophie-Ernestine de Tott (1758-1848) spent more than two decades in London as an amateur painter and musician.

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St Agnes sparks a bidding battle

05 August 2024

Overseas buyer emerges victorious as Old Master generates fierce competition in an Oxford sale

Interior scene

Works from Mayfair home of Maleki family head to Dreweatts

25 July 2024

Auction house Dreweatts has secured a consignment of works from the Mayfair home of Eskandar and Fatima Maleki. It will offer the collection in a dedicated sale on September 25.

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